Over the weekend, the Baltimore Dragon Boat Club hosted its annual splash-filled event, thrusting teams from across the Midwest and East Coast into a stirring showcase of teamwork and endurance at Port Covington Marina. In attendance, the Philadelphia Flying Phoenix, brought vigor and spirit, "They were amazing. They dug deep, got the water it, splashed up, we hit waves," expressed dragon boat racer Jan Cairone, as detailed by CBS Baltimore.
Distinct in its combination of sport and support, the Baltimore Dragon Boat Challenge is not just a spectacle of synchronized paddling and racing drums, but it also serves to genuinely bolster the lives of cancer survivors. "It's about working together as a team. There's 20 to 22 people on the boat, 20 paddlers, a drummer in this year and you basically paddle on one side," explained Baltimore Dragon Boat Club's President, John Pezzulla, in a statement obtained by CBS Baltimore.
Among the fleet of competitors, the Baltimore and Annapolis Dragon Boat Club's Barb Van De Castle stood as an emblem of resilience, charting through the race as she once navigated her battle with breast cancer. "I was paddling with them for two years and then I developed breast cancer," Van De Castle told CBS Baltimore. Drawing from her professional expertise as a nurse and the physical benefits of dragon boating, she underlined the sport's role in enhancing strength among women and in reducing lymphedema, a common issue post-cancer treatment.
The event's ethos echoed throughout the day, as Van De Castle added, "The importance of the social network that breast cancer survivors paddling together since they're all in the same boat. So to say," as reported by CBS Baltimore. Such camaraderie and collective efforts manifested not merely in the straining of muscles and reaching of finish lines, but more markedly in the shared experiences of survivors etching a legacy of tenacity and hope.
In capturing the fiery competitiveness and vibrant community spirit, FOX Baltimore also reported on the event, encouraging participants and spectators alike to share their visuals of this unique sporting event. As crews powered down the 200-meter, 500-meter, and grueling 2000-meter courses, it became apparent that whether paddlers were there for the gold, glory, or camaraderie, each stroke was as much about combatting cancer as it was about winning the race.
