Toulouse: the ladies of the Dragon Boat row against breast cancer
On June 5, twenty-five ladies from the Dragon Boat nautical association, whose paddle facilitates the remission of breast cancer, take part in Venice on the lagoon, in the traditional Vogalonga, a 32 km course. Report.
Despite the already overwhelming heat at 10 a.m., Brigitte, Florence, Audrey, Evelyne, Corinne, Annick and a few others train on the Ramée lake, like every Saturday. No time to lose, you have to be ready for June 5th and the traditional Pentecost race, the Vogalonga in Venice, 32 km of paddling on the lagoon. These women aged 35 to 74, with contagious good humor and caustic humour, crossed paths with breast cancer. To facilitate total remission of the disease, improve their quality of life and support each other, they joined the Dragon Boat association and became the Dragon Boat Ladies of this boat with its dragon-shaped bow: “The association was born in 2009, explains Brigitte Laury, member since 2017 and vice-president for a year. Initially, it was a paddle club for all. In 2013, the Ladies section of the Dragon Boat was born from the initiative of a Canadian doctor to avoid, after illness, the phenomenon of the “big arm” linked to the removal of cancerous lymph nodes. “Paddling gets all the muscles moving and gives you the edge,” she says. After the treatments, we often find ourselves alone to manage the fatigue, the side effects sometimes, the depression, etc. When we get here, all worries float away on the water. We sing while paddling. We are happy”. They add, “Padling and training on this lake is pure bliss. Including in winter with the cold.
Built in France, this 12.50 m boat weighs 150 kg accommodates 22 participants: twenty to paddle, one at the helm and the other at the back seated on the drum. “To move forward at the same time, good group cohesion is necessary, to pursue these women. In fact, literally and figuratively, we are all in the same boat. And together we move faster.
The Dragon Ladies are looking for sponsors to help fund their trip to Venice and make their dream come true. information: [email protected] secretariat@dragonboat-toulouse. in