A team of breast cancer survivors is on the lookout for more paddlers and would like to invite eligible locals to give it a try.
Spirit Abreast is a Fraser Valley dragon boat team of breast cancer survivors. Their mission is to raise breast cancer awareness and demonstrate that women living with breast cancer can lead full and active lives.
Noela Kerr is an Agassiz resident and member of Spirit Abreast. She joined in 2007 and has never looked back. While the exercise is good, it’s the relationships that have kept Kerr in the team year after year.
“The biggest part is meeting amazing women who are very supportive in what everyone has gone through,” says Kerr.
Kerr, a survivor of two types of cancer, says there are cancer survivors on the team as well supporters of those who have gone through cancer.
According to the team’s website, www.spiritabreast.org, the vision of the team is to encourage women living with breast cancer to live full and active lives and to allow survivors to put their illness in perspective while partaking in a strenuous activity and enjoying life.
Spirit Abreast attends several regattas each season. They practices at Cultus Lake on Saturdays through April then in May, they go to two evenings a week.
Kerr urges anyone who has given a thought to joining the team to come out and try it. She says not only will it keep you fit, you will probably form lifelong friendships too.
The first practice of the season is Saturday, April 11. To learn more about the team or to try it out, contact Jean Olsen at 604-792-6259.