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Cancer Survivors Place in Dragon Boat Festival

Originally published in the October 24, 2003 issue of The Catalyst
by Heather Murphy Woolwine Public Relations

It rained. It was cold, especially for Southerners’ standards. Home was a youth hostal with a leaky showerhead and rumpled cots.

You’d think this combination would mean short tempers, frustration, and irritability.

But we’re talking about cancer survivors, and everyone knows you’ve got to be a pretty tough cookie to beat cancer. Rain? What rain?

On Oct. 4, the Dragon Boat Charleston crew, comprised almost solely of cancer survivors, competed with 83 other dragon boat crews in the second annual Philadelphia Dragon Boat Festival.

Despite the icky weather and long train ride there, the Dragon BoatCharleston crew remained undaunted in its task of finishing various races in three to four minutes. In fact, it did better, with a finish time in the final heat of two minutes and 53 seconds and third place honors.

“This was their first competition,” said Sterling Hannah, Hollings CancerCenter volunteer coordinator. “The weather was cold, rainy and windy; we’re not so used to that! They were incredible, I’m so proud of them.”

Held on the Schuylkill River in Fairmount Park, the event features community and corporate teams, as well as teams from schools, law firms, health clubs,women’s groups, and more. All funds raised during this event benefit theFox Chase Cancer Center.

As for the future, the Dragon Boat Charleston crew plans to raise funds necessary to make it to another competition in Victoria, Canada in August. For more information on the dragon boat, contact Hannah at 792-3565.