Ladner-based paddlers win silver
The Ladner-based Abreast Deas Divas recently wrapped another successful season of dragon boating winning a silver medal at the recent Nanaimo regatta. The Divas are one of six crews in Abreast In A Boat, a team of breast cancer survivors who dragon boat to maintain good health and to show that breast cancer survivors can lead full and active lives after diagnosis with this disease. Abreast Deas Divas paddle twice a week in the Deas slough from mid-March until mid-July and are easily recognizable in their bright pink jerseys and life jackets.
The crew attended four regattas during the season beginning with the Deep Cove Dash in April, False Creek Women’s regatta in May, Rio Tinto Alcan in June and Nanaimo in July. This was the second year the crew attended the Nanaimo regatta which is a fund raiser for the Nanaimo Hospital foundation to purchase equipment in support of the breast cancer program in that region. The silver medal was earned in the Breast Cancer challenge race with the Deas winning their heat and placing second amongst 11 breast cancer survivor crews. The Divas also won the Gold Division B final with their best-ever time of two minutess 29 seconds to cap off the weekend.
The Divas consist of women from Tsawwassen, Ladner, North Delta as well as Surrey, Richmond and Vancouver with an age range from 42-82.
The women trained hard during the season and conquered adversity both on and off the water to build a close bond of friendship and support. Some of the crew are now paddling on an Abreast In A Boat enhanced performance crew in False Creek for the summer while others are taking time-off from paddling, but still maintaining their fitness level they have achieved through paddling. All the crew are already looking forward to the spring of 2013 when they get on the water again.
For more information about Abreast In A Boat check out www.abreastinaboat.com or come by the Abreast In A Boat information booth at the Ladner market on Sunday Sept. 9.
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