A Brief History:

History Professor Don McKenzie MD, PhD, from the Allan McGavin Institute of Sports Medicine at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada founded the breast cancer dragon boat movement in 1996 as part of a trial study to determine if paddling would have any adverse effect on patients with breast cancer.

Dragon boating is pioneering, up until 2005 Britain and Europe have not recognised that dragon boating is beneficial to breast cancer suvivors. So far survivors of breast cancer have been told to take it easy and be careful with their arms not to lift etc, because they would be at risk of getting lymphoedema.

New research carried out by Dr Helen Crank, research fellow at Sheffield Hallam university on paddlersforlife breast cancer survivors, has shown that joining a dragon boat team is of great benefit to health after breast cancer and helps to reduce the effects of lymphoedema, which 40% of breast cancer survivors suffer from!

Helen Crank is currently looking for funding to do a national study which could change the face of breast cancer and lymphoedema rehabilitation for ever.

The breast cancer dragon boat movement in the UK was founded by Eve Elliott Pearson in Liverpool in 2005. Today there are survivors and supporters established in Liverpool, Worcester and Windermere. We come in all shapes, sizes and ages, sport often being an activity in our dim and distance pasts! Athleticism is not a criterion for participation