Ladies go dragon boat racing
2006-10-19
THE amaBele Belles, the first Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Racing team in Africa, recently returned with a trophy and silver medals from the 1st Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat World Championships in Singapore.
The club was formed in April this year and as the newest team in the championship were seeded bottom against 16 other teams that have been in existence for between two and eleven years.
The ‘Belles’ announced their intentions in dramatic style by winning their first race by more than a boat length.
The amaBele Belles range from 32 to 50+ and from Comrades runners to women who haven’t done sport since they were at school.
They include teachers, nurses, receptionists, radiographers, computer technologists, a martial arts teacher, a professor, wine farmers and home makers - but they all have the common bond of having survived breast cancer and of now grasping life wholeheartedly and living it to the full.
One member of the team is still undergoing chemotherapy; she told her doctor he must fit her treatments around the competition!
Another girl had reconstructive surgery less than four weeks ago, whilst two paddlers had a second mastectomy less than three months ago.
Three women from Paarl also participated. They are Minette van der Walt, Nerine de Jongh and Juanita Jacobs.
With 17 teams from five continents, the South African team was voted the most friendly, outgoing and popular.
Every time they arrived at or left the venue, they sang Shosholoza.
This always made the other teams stop what they were doing and wave. When they sang ‘Nkosi’ at the celebration dinner, it was the only time the hall of over 1000 women (and a few men) fell silent to listen.
Although the primary aim of breast cancer survivor dragon boat teams is far deeper and more serious than mere sport and fun, when it come to the actual racing, these ladies train as hard and race as seriously as any other dragon boaters.
* The girls are now practising for the “Dragon Boat Festival” that will take place at the V&A Waterfront on 10 and 11 November.
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