On This Page. . .
(Click topic to view)

  1. Who we are
  2. Mission Statement
  3. History
  4. Why we paddle
  5. Achievements

We are...

...a group of women from Vancouver, Canada, living with breast cancer. We participate in dragon boat racing to make a difference - to raise awareness about breast cancer and to encourage those living with breast cancer to live full and active lives. Abreast In A Boat is a non-profit society. Our goal is to send a message of hope to people living with this disease and to those who support them.


 Mission Statement
  • To help people who have had breast cancer understand that they can lead full, active lives despite the physical limitations imposed by this disease.
  • To improve the quality of life for people who have had breast cancer while research is being done to find a cure.
  • To raise awareness about breast cancer.
  • To encourage the pursuit of a cure.

In the boat we...

Paddle together
Support each other
Learn from one another
Laugh together
Enjoy competition
Overcome fear
Encourage others
Make true friends
Take pride in our accomplishments
Break the silence of cancer


History

Original Abreast In A Boat Team
with Dr. McKenzie

Dr. Don McKenzie, a sports medicine physician at the University of British Columbia, launched Abreast In A Boat in 1996 to test the myth that repetitive upper-body exercise in women treated for breast cancer encourages lymphedema.

Dr McKenzie believed that by following a special exercise and training program, women could avoid lymphedema and enjoy active, full lives. As we followed his program, we were carefully monitored by a sports medicine physician, a physiotherapist and a nurse. Dr McKenzie's theory was proven correct. No new cases of lymphedema occurred and none of the existing cases became worse.

From a medical study involving one boat of 25 women in 1996, the organization has now grown to include five boats based in Vancouver and has inspired many other teams to form. Read articles about the medical history of Abreast In A Boat in the Canadian Medical Association Journal:
August 1998 | October 1996


Why We Paddle

Through the strenuous demands of dragon boat paddling, we have learned that we can push the limits of our physical endurance and have fun doing it. We have grown stronger as individuals and as a group. We began as strangers with only our disease in common; now we are best friends and an emotional support network for each other, our friends, and our communities. Our dream is to continue to encourage all those living with breast cancer all over the world to live full and active lives.

Our dragon boat experience is helping our healing:
  • it helps us regain control of our lives
  • it shows our families and friends we can live our lives the way we choose
  • it reminds us to make the most of every moment
  • it creates a new state of wellness in each of us
  • it demands the best of us both physically and mentally
  • it helps us overcome the loneliness of cancer
  • it creates a safety net in the event of a recurrence
  • it gives us pride in our accomplishments
  • it shows us we can undertake strenuous exercise without developing lymphedema
  • it enables us to move on with our lives
  • it creates a new balance in our lives
  • it encourages us to share our experience with others

    •  

     


    Achievements

    June 2003:
    Twenty-one crews (including five AIAB crews) participated in the Scotiabank Trophy Race at the Alcan. August 2003: A representative crew paddled at the World Dragon Boat Championship Races in Poznan, Poland.

    November 2003:
    A representative crew paddled at the Singapore Dragon Boat Festival.
    April 2004: Six AIAB crews paddled in the Lower Mainland, one of which paddled in the International Dragon Boat Festival in Cape Town, South Africa. There are now almost 90 crews worldwide.

    September 2002:
    Four representatives of AIAB participated at the World Club Crew Championships in Rome, Italy. They formed part of the second “Internationally Abreast” team composed of women from Canada and Australia. The International Dragon Boat Festival announced its intention to create a “Breast Cancer Race” at each of its festivals.

    June 2002
    Honoured by the Chinese Cultural Centre. Along with their World War II veterans, AIAB was recognized as both "Warriors" and "Dragons". Fourteen crews participated in the Scotiabank sponsored Breast Cancer Race held in Vancouver. There are now over 40 breast cancer dragon boat crews around the world.

    May 2002: AIAB received the first Board of Trade “Spirit of Vancouver” award.

    April 2002
    Abreast In A Boat receives a Spirit of Vancouver Award for innovative support and encouragement of survivors of breast cancer in the category of Community Organization.

    October 2001
    Dr. Don McKenzie receives the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General in Ottawa for helping initiate and develop the program that has benefited hundreds of breast cancer survivors across the world.

    Dr. Don MacKenzie

    July 2001:
    AIAB participated at the International Dragon Boat Festival in Philadelphia, United States, in support of the US’s newly created team.

    June 2001:
    AIAB participated at the Toronto Dragon Boat Festival on the first “Internationally Abreast” crew composed of women from Australia, Canada and the United States.

    November 2000
    Dr. Don Mckenzie was the recipient of the Faculty Citation Community Service Award at the UBC 2000 Alumni Awards event for his research into the effects of exercise on breast cancer patients and for the development of the 'Abreast In A Boat' program of rehabilitation and information.

    October 2000
    Abreast In A Boat Society was awarded the Community Achievement Award at the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Awareness Day 2000 Fundraising Luncheon.

    October 2000
    Abreast In A Boat won the Community Team Excellence Award at the CIBC Run For The Cure, for raising $21,000 for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

    June 2000:
    Hosted Auckland, New Zealand team and others at the Vancouver Festival.

    May 2000
    Brenda Hochachka, captain of our original boat and first president of Abreast In A Boat Society, received an award as the 2000 YWCA Woman of Distinction for Sport and Recreation.
    Brenda Hochachka

    February 2000
    The Abreast In A Boat Global TV documentary, 'Through Fire and Water', by Janice Talbot received a finalist award at a New York media festival.

    January 2000:
    Membership increased to five crews, and AIAB now owns two dragon boats. It is responsible for encouraging the development of over 30 teams around the world.

    January 30, 2000
    Baby Ross-Willem (Will) Young was born to proud parents Mary Ella and Wayne Young. Our first Abreast In A Boat baby!!!

    " Not a day goes by that I don't realize how blessed I am to have this beautiful little boy in my life. After a year, it is still awesome to me that he's here and part of me. My pregnancy gave me a wonderful sense of power over my body, and watching him grow and change makes me feel so vital. I've always felt that a hearty giggle every day will keep the cancer cells away. He heals me with his joy all day, every day."

    Mary Ella Young

     

     

    October 1999
    'Abreast In The Himalayas' - Gail Konantz, Carol Dale, Lesley Laudan and paddlers from other breast cancer teams unfurled our flag atop the 4000 m Peekay Mountain in Nepal.

    June 1999:
    AIAB hosts teams from Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg, Central Vancouver Island, Edmonton, Calgary, Brandon, Victoria and Portland, Oregon for the Scotiabank sponsored Breast Cancer Challenge Race. AIAB held the first ever Dragon Boat Workshop for Breast Cancer Teams in conjunction with the Vancouver Festival.

    1998
    Abreast In A Boat receives a Promotion Plus Leadership Award in the Team Category

    June 1998:
    AIAB participated in the Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival and received the CTV Success Story of the Year award.

    February 1998:
    Membership increased to four crews. AIAB participated in the International Dragon Boat Festival in Wellington, New Zealand.

    October 1997:
    Abreast In A Boat Society was formed.

    August 1997:
    Competed at the Victoria Dragon Boat Festival where the first race solely for boats comprised of breast cancer survivors was held.

    January 1997:
    AIAB increased its membership to three crews. With our guidance Toronto, Montreal and Victoria started their teams.

    June 1996:
    First ever AIAB crew participated at the International Dragon Boat Festival in Vancouver and received the David Lam Award for the team that best exemplified community spirit at the Dragon Boat Festival.

    January 1996
    First team meeting held at the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre, UBC.