Dragon Boat Paddling Offers Physical and Psychosocial Healing for Cancer Survivors

Dragon boat paddling has emerged as a meaningful form of physical rehabilitation and psychosocial support for cancer survivors, with teams across the United States now training and competing on an international stage. The practice traces its therapeutic roots to a landmark 1996 study that directly challenged prevailing medical advice for breast cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病 survivors.

Origins of a Therapeutic Movement

In the early 1990s, survivors of breast cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病 were typically advised to avoid strenuous activity to prevent lymphedema (搜索)搜索该疾病, a fluid buildup that can occur after treatment. However, survivors began challenging that notion, and in 1996 a dragon boat team was formed as a test study specifically because of the repetitive upper-body activity that paddling requires.

The study reported, "The impact of this experience on these women has been overwhelming, the physical changes barely keeping pace with the changes in psyche… No new cases of lymphedema (搜索)搜索该疾病 arose, several women reported improved range of motion of their shoulders, and one woman reported resolution of a prolonged case of reflex sympathetic dystrophy (搜索)搜索该疾病," a chronic condition that causes pain and swelling.

Beyond the physical benefits, dragon boating offers social engagement, exposure to the outdoors, and poses a lower risk of injuries than weight-bearing exercises.

A Growing Community of Survivor Teams

The momentum from the 1996 study helped fuel the growth of organized paddling programs. When Nathan Benderson Park in Sarasota hosted the International Breast Cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病 Paddlers' Commission Dragon Boat Festival in 2014, Survivors In Sync was formed as the Sarasota team. More than 25 members of Survivors In Sync, a team made up of breast cancer survivors, are headed to the French Alps in August for the International Breast Cancer Paddlers' Commission Dragon Boat Festival, an event held every three to four years.

The program has since expanded considerably. A community team was formed a couple of years later, joined by some husbands of Survivors In Sync members. The NBP Warriors team was then formed for survivors of all types of cancer. Most recently, NBP Veterans was organized by retired U.S. Army first sergeant Rickard Jensen in 2021. Jensen found such a sense of peace in paddling that he thought it could help other veterans, noting that the suicide rate among veterans was 22 per day when he started the team.

The program started with a small group of "passionate paddlers" but now includes about 150 members who are entering higher-level competitions and traveling more. Angela Long, Benderson's programs coach, said the conservancy would like to expand further by adding a youth team and a para team for individuals with disabilities.

Competing on a Global Stage

In Portland, Oregon, the Rose City Rockets — a dragon boat crew made up entirely of people dealing with cancer or who have dealt with it in the past — are headed to the world championships in Taiwan. To earn a berth at the championships, the team had to medal at the Club Crew Nationals in Sarasota the prior year, and the Rose City Rockets will compete in the all-cancer paddler division.

Coach Lori Godfrey, who was diagnosed with Stage 3B breast cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病 16 years ago, described her own journey: "I was near death... That was very serious." After undergoing chemotherapy, a lumpectomy, and acupuncture, she learned about paddling at a Susan G. Komen charity fundraiser, where Pink Phoenix — described as the first all-breast-cancer team in the U.S., based in Portland — had a booth. Godfrey is now in remission and coaching the team.

As a coach of athletes dealing with cancer, Godfrey must closely monitor her team. "I have to know where people are, physically and emotionally," she said. "Maybe they've had a recurrence? We have people that are in active treatment, meaning they're taking treatments right now, going to chemo."

Personal Accounts of Healing

Team members describe paddling as a source of hope and physical strength during and after treatment. Katherine Benenati, who learned about the benefits of paddling from her doctor while fighting Stage 3 breast cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病, underwent chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and a lumpectomy. At times, treatment made her so tired she could hardly eat, but she still wanted to paddle.

"I wanted something that would give me hope and something to cling to. And I wanted that to be something physical," Benenati explained. "It was so amazing to watch the paddler in front of me and to see the way their body moved... And then to realize I was keeping up. I was matching them and their energy."

Stephen Schuitevoerder, a 68-year-old psychologist who had skin cancer (搜索)搜索该疾病, said paddling brings his blood pressure down and offers a profound sense of connection. "What's amazing is the whole group comes together. And we become human beings, wrestling with what it's like to be human."

Accessibility and Community Support

The opportunities are not limited to cancer survivors and veterans. Anyone 18 or older can join the NBP Dragons, with participants able to paddle recreationally or competitively. All teams require a monthly membership fee that includes three coached practices a week, with fees starting at $40 a month with a one-year commitment and 20 hours of annual volunteering, up to $65 a month for a membership that can be canceled at any time. The conservancy provides all necessary equipment.

"We subsidize when needed," Long said. "But for the most part, everybody pays the same fee, so we do our best to keep the cost as low as possible." NBP Marketing Director Marnie Buchsbaum added, "It's a great opportunity for those who are looking for camaraderie and motivation. You find a lot of different people just want to get outdoors, do something fun together and get active."