BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR TEAM
Join the First-Ever All-Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Team in Chicago!
Imagine the sound of paddles slicing through the water, the steady rhythm of a team moving as one, and the energy of survivors reclaiming their strength. This is more than a sport—it’s a statement of resilience, community, and empowerment.
why a breast cancer survivor team?
wHAT IS THE GREATER cHICAGO dRAGON bOAT cLUB?
WHAT IS DRAGON BOATING?
Dragon Boat Racing is a 2000-year-old sport that started in China and now includes teams around the world,
with annual international competitions and a division specifically for Breast Cancer Survivor teams. 22 people,
(20 paddlers, a stern and drummer) paddle together to compete in races of 250, 500 and 2000 meters. Races
are local, regional, national, and international. Some people choose just to practice and not race.
We are calling all breast cancer survivors in Chicago to be part of something truly ground-breaking: the city’s first-ever all-BCS Dragon Boat team!
Our MISSION is to demonstrate that a full & active life is possible after Cancer. ‘EXERCISE IS MEDICINE.’
Through exercise and participation in Dragonboat Paddling, breast Cancer survivors, both female and male,
can regain that part of their lives they thought they lost through a diagnosis of breast cancer.
We achieve this by training and competing together and provide positive support to each other and hope for
others facing challenges.
GCDBC was established as a non-profit sports club in 2016 to welcome paddlers of all abilities and skill levels. We paddle out of Chicago on the Chicago River and Des Plaines. Several teams make up the Club, including an all Women team (Sirens), a novice team (Phoenix), and a regional competitive coed team (Blades). In addition, we work with Adaptive Adventures to support their Paradragon team. The Breast Cancer Survivor team will be our newest Club team.
PRACTICE DETAILS
We currently paddle out of two locations, four days of the week
1. Weed Street Boathouse, North Ave & Kingsbury, Chicago on Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings
2. Lake Opeka, Des Plaines on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings
HOW DO I GIVE IT A TRY?
Contact Ulrike or Bridget via email to learn more.
We’d love to see you on the water!
Bridget Durkin bridget.durkin@comcast.net
Ulrike Mengelberg Ulrike_tgif@yahoo.com
NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
DON'T NEED TO KNOW HOW TO SWIM
EQUIPMENT PROVIDED
ALL AGES WELCOME
Whether you're an experienced paddler or have never held a paddle in your life, this team is about unity, strength, and proving that survivorship is just the beginning of a new adventure.