Dragon boat racing might be unfamiliar to you, but three local breast cancer survivors hope that changes soon.
Healing Dragons of Lake James is hosting an informational meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday in the TV room at the Collett Street rec center, 300 Collett St.
Organizers Patti Kirchoff, Susan Nyman and Gisella Bourg-Williamson hope to start a dragon boat racing team that begin training by the first of April.
Kirchoff said dragon boating dates to ancient China and is one of the fastest growing water sports.
Dragon boating involves a 40-foot canoe-like boat powered by 22 people — 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steerer, Kirchoff said. Boats race against each other in different divisions and for different distances.
So how does this tie into breast cancer?
Women with breast cancer are advised not to exercise their arms heavily because it can lead to lymphedema, Kirchoff said. But one physician's study showed that dragon boating does not cause the complication.
Dragon boating caught on in the breast cancer community, and some teams serve as both a sporting event and support group, Kirchoff said.
Breast cancer survivors aren't the only people creating dragon boating teams, Bourg-Williamson said. Some teams at festivals are there from colleges and are for purely recreational reasons.
The three women said they had each heard about dragon boat racing in the past few years, but Bourg-Williamson was the first to participate.
Bourg-Williamson said she began racing with a team in Atlanta and Charleston, which led to the formation of a team in Charlotte.
Nyman, who is battling breast cancer for a second time, recounted that Bourg-Williamson took the two women and "then we got the dragon boating bug."
Nyman said Healing Dragons of Lake James encourages everyone to participate. Women and men alike, any cancer patients or survivors, or "whoever wants to come out and have fun" are welcome. No experience is necessary.
Bourg-Williamson said the dragon boating experience can be a workout and strenuous if the participant chooses to make it so. Paddlers can pull in their paddle and rest if they need to as well.
And although the races usually only last 1 to 3 minutes, the adrenaline and team camaraderie can lead to an enriching experience.
"Because you have to paddle in unison, it's a real team sport," Kirchoff said. "It's intense. You're exhausted at the end of that race."
And the three women have been working since September to start a team at home.
Nyman said, "We wanted to come to our beautiful lake…"
"…and support this community for good causes," Bourg-Williamson finished.
Healing Dragons of Lake James also hopes to host a festival in the future. Nyman said the group wants to give back to the community with the festival.
For more information visit www.healingdragonsoflakejames.org or e-mail healingdragonslj@yahoo.com.
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