HISTORY - PINK CHAMPAGNE DRAGON BOAT RACING TEAM

History of Dragon Boat Racing

The custom of dragon boating dates back more than 2,000 years. Its origin was a commemoration of the patriot poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Mei Lo River after being exiled from his state. It is said the villagers, who loved Qu Yuan, feared the fish and water dragons would devour his body. To ensure that Qu Yuan never went hungry, or maybe to divert the fish from eating his body, they wrapped rice in leaves and threw them into the river.

They also rowed around the river splashing their paddles and beating their drums to scare away the beasts. Since then dragon boat racing has taken place all over the world and has become increasingly popular with breast cancer survivors as part of their exercise programme.

Where did dragon boat racing start for Breast Cancer Survivors?

In 1995 Dr Don McKenzie, a sports medicine physician at the University of British Columbia, started researching the issue of rehabilitation following diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Current opinion had prevailed that the avoidance of strenuous exercise was necessary to prevent lymphoedema or swelling of the arm where lymph nodes had been removed. Dr McKenzie believed that upper body exercise has a role in recovery from breast cancer and lymphoedema. It can improve the range of movement and reverse muscle atrophy, activate skeletal muscle (which may help pump lymph), and stimulate the immune system.

To test his theories he formed a dragon boat team (Abreast in a boat) in Vancouver in February 1996. The only criteria for joining was a history of breast cancer – age, athletic ability and paddling experience were not considered.