Dragonboaters head south

Members of the local dragon boat team, Bust 'N Loose, are travelling to Florida to take part in an international paddlers' commission.

Photo: Contributed - Julie Cancela

The International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission (IBCPC) is a Dragon Boat Festival at Nathan Benderson Park.

More than 3,000 Breast Cancer Survivors (BCS) and supporters from all over the world will participate, making this the largest festival the IBCPC festival has ever organized.

The event is designed to promote healthy living and to empower BCS to continue celebrating survivorship and quality of life after cancer. 

The festival begins with pre-race events on Friday, Oct. 24 that will include training sessions, education forums and social activities focused on breast cancer awareness, wellness and healthy lifestyles.

Race days will be Saturday, Oct. 25 and Sunday, Oct. 26 with the final round from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26.

Teams from all over the United States and countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Italy, New Zealand and Canada will participate.

Additional events will take place throughout the community during the Festival.

Highlights

• Dr. Susan Love, an internationally renowned Breast Cancer Specialist and Advocate, will be the key note speaker at the Opening Ceremony Friday, October 24, 5:00 p.m.
• Pink fire trucks and pink police cars from the Pink Heals National Tour, will make a stop at the event. 
• Distinguished Men of Brass, the Tampa band seen on “America’s Got Talent” will kick-off the Parade of Nation’s along Main Street in Lakewood Ranch on Saturday, October 25 at 6:30 p.m. 
• Dr. Don McKenzie, a sports medicine doctor who started the first BCS dragon boat team in 1996 when he challenged the theory that rigorous upper body exercise could cause lymphedema to women (and men) being treated for breast cancer will be meeting and greeting participants on Saturday and Sunday.