Kootenay Rhythm Dragons Celebrate 10 Years of Paddling and Friendship
By Colin Payne
What started out as a small group of local women gathering for recreation and support has turned into so much more for the Kootenay Rhythm Dragons, who are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their rowing club this month.
The Rhythm Dragons started out in 2004 as Nelson’s first dragon boat team, made up of breast cancer survivors, along with their friends, family and supporters who support the team’s goals of improving the physical and psychological wellbeing of people who have had breast cancer, while raising community awareness of breast cancer survivorship, as well as honouring and supporting those who are unable to participate.
Mary Walters, one of the founding members of the Rhythm Dragons, says the decision to make the team happened after members of the Kootenay Robusters – a dragon boat team from Grand Forks – attended a local breast cancer support group and encouraged the members to start a dragon boat team.
Planning began in 2003, and by June 2004 the Kootenay Rhythm Dragons were registered as a non-profit society that bought its first boat the following month and began paddling right away.
“We started off paddling in 2004 with about 25 members,” Walters says.
“Two of us went to the Kelowna Dragon Boat Festival that year and we went to our first race in 2005 in Penticton. We had so much fun, excitement and thrills that we’ve just gone from there.”
From their humble beginnings, the Rhythm Dragons have built up their club over the past 10 years to 80 members ranging in age from 30 to 85, about a third of which are breast cancer survivors.
They have two teams – Ladies of the Lake (LOLs) and Sisters in Sync –that alternate paddling days during the week, along with a recreational paddle on Saturday morning for people who don’t want to race but do want to be involved.
“We all take turns coaching,” Walters says. “It’s relaxed and you get out on the lake and learn to paddle. It’s great excitement and fun, and you get to enjoy beautiful Kootenay Lake.”
The other two teams compete regularly in races throughout the region, and this year they’ll be going to events in Kelowna. Vernon and Penticton. The Rhythm Dragons also send members to international races across the country and around the world.
But the core of the club goes beyond recreation and racing to a group of women who support each other in every way.
“It’s a team of ladies who have come together for health and wellbeing – whether physical, emotional or whatever,” Walters explains.
“We support each other through all life’s events. It’s really a strong group of ladies who enjoy the physical paddling. It’s exhilarating – the camaraderie, the sport and the friendships made.
“We try to have no barriers. There are no physical barriers and we’ve set up a paddler assistance fund so there will be no financial barriers either. We keep fees low and support each other if someone is having financial difficulty.”
If your interest has been piqued, Walters notes that the club is always accepting new members.
The upcoming 10th anniversary celebrations happening on Sunday (July 13) at Nelson’s Lakeside Park Rotary Shelter will offer a great opportunity to get our and check things out – including a lunch chance to go for a paddle for just a $5 donation. For more information, e-mail Sarah at SJquayle@hotmail.co.uk.
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