All In The Same Boat: Annapolis Dragon Boat Club Connects Breast Cancer Survivors

An estimated 3,000 breast cancer survivors recently descended upon Florence, Italy, for an international competition. Of those survivors, 52 were from the Annapolis Dragon Boat Club.

“The women that have come together through this mis-occurrence of cancer are some of the most resilient, positive, fun people to be with,” said Mary Clawson, a Severna Park resident. “It’s given me a community of women that I wouldn’t have had before.”

The Annapolis Dragon Boat Club meets roughly three times a week for practice. It is composed of nearly 80 members generally age 30 to 80, and not all of them have been directly affected by breast cancer.

Members get in a 48-foot-long boat, with 22 people per boat. There are 20 paddlers, a steerer who stands in the back and a drummer who sits in the front.

The club is part of the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission and competes in the international festival, which is held every four years. Outside of that, the club does other races, including one in Philadelphia on October 6.

Why Dragon Boats?

In the mid-1990s, Dr. Don McKenzie became the “father of breast cancer survivor dragon boat racing.”

“Historically, people were afraid to exercise after having breast cancer treatment because we all thought, in the medical community, that exercise could cause swelling or lymphedema,” said Amy Kinder, owner of the Annapolis Lymphedema Center.

Lymphedema is swelling typically caused by the surgical removal of lymph nodes. Lymph vessels and nodes can also be damaged during radiation, which takes place during cancer treatment and further weakens the lymphatic system.

“What Dr. McKenzie did was a study where he had a control group that did nothing, and he had his group that paddled on the dragon boat,” Kinder said. “He found that not only was there not more lymphedema with the exercise group, they actually had less lymphedema.”

Lymphedema relies on skeletal muscles contracting to move fluid, so it’s important to get any kind of exercise. The reason paddling is popular among breast cancer survivors is because it’s a full-body workout, Kinder said.

Liz Carlin, a Severna Park resident, spent more than a year trying to heal her body after her surgeries.

“It just took me so long to get my body healed, but this is what did it for me,” Carlin said. “When I went to my physical therapist, it was a prominent thing in her office. This is good for you. This is going to help you move your body better and stretch.”

Creating A Community

Clawson is a 33-year breast cancer survivor. When she joined the club in 2012, it was the first time she had a community of other survivors.

“When I found out about this club, I was looking for a way to give back and to help women going through the whole process of breast cancer,” Clawson said. “Even though my experience was so different from what’s happening today, I can say, ‘Hey, look. Make long-range plans. I’m still here 33 years later, so keep going.’”

Carlin, who just finished up her first year in the club, said the group helped her overcome her fears of talking about her cancer.

“It’s made me realize that there are so many other people out there just like me, literally in the same boat having gone through the same experiences, as horrific as some of it was,” Carlin said. “It’s just an amazing feeling to have 20 women in a boat.”

Severna Park resident Barbara Buchleitner initially joined the club in support of her friend who has been battling breast cancer for years and can no longer paddle due to her health and worsening immune system. Buchleitner is a survivor of bladder cancer.

“Although the club centers around breast cancer, many of the emotions and fears of cancer are the same,” Buchleitner said. “I have gathered great strength by being around people that work to maintain a positive attitude and fighting spirit.”

The Full-Body Workout

In addition to creating a community, the club is a great source of exercise.

“It gets me physical exercise that I wouldn’t ordinarily get,” said Severna Park resident Linda Jablon. “I feel good about myself when I do it.”

Jablon, an interior decorator, learned about the club from some of her clients. Though she is not personally a survivor, Jablon has a history of breast cancer in her family.

“Everybody knows people that have breast cancer,” Jablon said. “I’m happy to support anything to do with it.”

Norann Redding, a Severna Park resident, joined the club to support her friend who had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Exercise has always been important in my life, and paddling with this club has made me a stronger person in so many ways,” Redding said. “I listen to the survivor’s stories and admire their strength.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Annapolis Dragon Boat Club is participating in the Philadelphia Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, October 6. For more information on the Annapolis Dragon Boat Club, visit www.annapolisdragonboatclub.org.

READ MORE: Local Foundation Has National Reach For Breast Cancer Awareness Month