Pink Dragons

Thursday, October 9, 2014
The Indy SurviveOars pose after a Chicago race in July. Members of the team are breast cancer survivors who provide support to fellow survivors while participating in healthy mental, emotional and physical exercise through dragon boat competitions.

Ancient Chinese water sport gives therapy, camaraderie to breast cancer survivors

While the sport of dragon boating has its roots from more than 2,000 years ago in ancient China, the Indy SurviveOars have taken its sense of teamwork and unity and applied it to survivors of a fight that affects one in eight women, according to breastcancer.org.

"In the beginning I was just thankful I wasn't dead," said Yopi Havlik, breast cancer survivor and recently appointed president of the non-profit Indy SurviveOars group.

"Then you realize you've got to find what it (being a survivor) means to you."

For Havlik, that meant writing a children's book for kids with parents fighting breast cancer, helping at hospitals and being involved with SurviveOars.

Havlik began the program skeptically with a friend who had breast cancer, thinking it wasn't for her.

She is now in her fifth season as a SurviveOar and was named the president of the organization on Oct. 1.

Indy SurviveOars isn't the only dragon boat team made up of breast cancer survivors, in fact it is estimated to be the 50th team of its kind in the U.S.

Sarah Demmon steers and Etta Biloon pounds the drum on the Indy SurviveOars dragon boat racing team during a September race in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Members of SurviveOars are breast cancer survivors who provide support to fellow survivors while participating in healthy mental, emotional and physical exercise.

After Don Mackenzie, a Canadian sports medicine physician at the University of British Columbia, noted in 1996 that the physical, emotional and mental stimulation from dragon boating actually helped breast cancer survivors in the recovery process, the breast cancer boating movement has continued to grow.

Not all members of the team have dealt first-hand with breast cancer, but at least 55 of the 75 team members have survived breast cancer.

Dragon boating is done on boats that are decorated to look like dragons, with a drummer in the front pounding out a rhythm, a "helm" in the rear who steers the boat and the paddlers forming two parallel rows in the center of the boat rowing to the rhythm of the drum.

"The most important thing in dragon boating is to be in sync with the other paddlers," Havlik explained.

The Indy SurviveOars team competes in a unique, all-pink dragon boat that is the first of its kind for long-time manufacturer Swift Dragon Boats of China and is the first in the world to have a custom-designed pink head and tail.

Lessons from dragon boating apply to all aspect of life, especially that of a breast cancer survivor.

"Together we can do things stronger and faster and better than if we do things by ourselves," Havlik said, connecting boating to breast cancer.

"Everybody is in the same boat," she said, acknowledging literal and metaphorical interpretations.

The team is a great source of information for members, allowing women the chance to ask questions of others who have been through the same process. Practical questions and expectations of the various stages of cancer survival such as: OK, who's used this medication and what can I expect?

"When you get in that boat, we all know why we're there and what brought us there," Havlik said.

In addition to the support, dragon boating also provides physical exercise that is important for all people, but especially cancer survivors who may have excess weight issues and other physical ailments related to treatment and its side effects.

Indy SurviveOars, a breast cancer survivor dragon boat racing team, participates in a "flower ceremony" in Alexandria, KY in September. At each competition where survivors are racing, they are given flowers, then inspirational words are said about those who have lost and those who continue the fight against breast cancer. The flowers are then thrown into the water to create a moving display of support, especially for the newly diagnosed.

Having survived breast cancer 12 years ago, Havlik believes that being a SurviveOar "means you have a network of the most wonderful group of women who are always there for you. It means you might be sore and tired after practice but you're so happy to be able to be sore and tired."

SurviveOars caters to individuals of all ages, physical abilities and financial situations. There is a wide-spanning age range of paddlers, from 35 to 70, and there are several members who are currently battling with cancer recurrence.

Those members continue to show up for practice and get in the boat with the rest of the team so that they maintain the sense of love and support that creates a sisterhood within SurviveOars.

The organization also has special funds to help those who may not be able to afford the costs related to the sport, as well as providing stipends for the team when it travels for competitions, covering costs associated with hotels and food while away.

The team competes in non-cancer related races as well as many breast cancer-related competitions. On the horizon is the International Dragon Boat Festival in Sarasota, Fla., at the end of October. The breast cancer related competition is held in a different host city each year, with past events being held in Canada and Australia.

The race aims to encourage the mission of dragon boat groups "that breast cancer is not a death sentence; that we are not victims but thrivers who have found a way to empower ourselves after the adversity of breast cancer by staying mentally healthy and physically fit," according to festival organizer Kim Bonomo.

This mentality drives the Indy SurviveOars, forming bonds with other women through a shared effort of being on the same team, whether the team is that of a breast cancer survivor or as a dragon boat racer, the relationships are what is important.

"It's amazing. It's life changing for so many of us," Havlik said.

"Once you get in the boat, everybody is equal."

For more information on getting involved or how you can help, SurviveOars can be reached online at www.indysurviveoars.org. The team is always seeking new members, volunteers and sponsors to continue growing its mission and raising awareness.

As always, beginning breast examinations early is the best way to fight against breast cancer. Be sure to speak with your physician, schedule regular checkups with your doctor and utilize the array of resources available to learn more about how to perform a self-examination, including information in this special publication.

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