Help a Breast Cancer Survivor Compete for Team USA

I am a fierce Dragon Boat Paddler & Coach, and Breast Cancer Survivor from Western MA.

After intensive training and loads of support from my team, Paradise City Dragon Boat, along with my family, friends, and community, I have earned a spot on the US National Dragon Boat Team, to race in the all-new Breast Cancer Survivor division!

I will be paddling for Team USA at the World Dragon Boat Championships this July in Brandenburg, Germany.

I am beyond excited and honored for this chance to represent my home, and to continue to raise awareness for breast cancer and show the strength, perseverance, and power of survivors. It is a complicated moment in time to represent the USA on the international stage. In the dragon boat, as in life, we are stronger together, and I will strive to embody the ideals and values of our nation that unite us rather than create division.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 when I was 29 years old. With no family history of this disease, it came as a shock, and I am very fortunate to have found the lump when I did and to have access to excellent medical care! My treatment at both MGH Cooley Dickinson and Dana Farber included multiple surgeries, chemo, radiation, hormone therapy, and treatment for lymphedema. While my cancer was successfully wrestled into remission (so far so good!), it really wasn't until I found dragon boating in 2019 that I began to truly heal.

Finding this sport (and yes, I have my mother to thank for bringing me to it!) has allowed me to heal in both body and spirit. I am not a victim, but a survivor. I am not a sick or broken person, but an athlete! The camaraderie and bonds shared in the dragon boat are like no other. Through my team, I am truly surrounded by a community of support, understanding, love, and strength that I know will help me through any challenge that comes my way. Last year, I took another big leap of faith and stepped into the role of co-coach for the team, which has further deepened my commitment to the sport and to supporting others to achieve their goals.

The 17th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships, organized by the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF), will be held in Brandenburg, Germany, from July 14th-20th. This is the highest level of competition in dragon boating today, and there are currently 36 nations (and counting) sending delegate teams to this event—nearly double the number from 2023!

https://www.dragonboat.sport/

The competition will be fierce, and it is thrilling to know that I will be a part of history as the first-ever breast cancer team to compete at this level!

As I prepare to embark on this exciting journey, I am seeking financial support to help with the major costs. These include:

If I am able to raise more than is needed for my own expenses, I will use the remainder to support the rest of the team.

Thank you for your consideration!