Chestmates - Notes from the Dragonboat

Chestmates' final festival of 2007 in Stratford Ontario, September 15th was just about as cold and drizzly as any we have ever attended. However, with shared clothing and lots of hot chocolate and coffee, as well as the camaraderie between team members and fellow breast cancer dragonboaters, we always manage to enjoy the competition of paddling and the opportunity to raise awareness. The Stratford venue was superb and the crowds lining the Avon River seemed almost close enough to touch as we paddled furiously down the course; their cheers and support drove our paddles ever more powerfully through the water.

Just before Thanksgiving, we reluctantly steered our boat to its winter shelter at DC Marine; thanks again to Don Collette for his most generous gesture in storing the boat gratis for us over the winter. In addition, Don provides us with a sheltered and lighted space to get the boat ready for the Santa Claus Parade. For this year's evening parade, November 17th, the weather was dry and fairly warm making it comfortable for the thousands of spectators of all ages that line the route. Special thanks to Helen and Ron Tolles, Donna and Wade Wright, and Mary and Henry Peel for the beautiful, sturdy dragon spine they created for the boat - purple, with glistening silver scales, embellished with flowing gauzy streamers and outlined in lights. With BCAK and Chestmates' banners, the magnificent boat, and the Chestmates decked out in pink and purple hats, scarves and pink boas, we made quite a special sight “paddling” down Princess Street. The parade is a great opportunity to raise awareness of BCAK and its wonderful programs.

The fall, with its respite from twice weekly practices also gives us an opportunity for some special social events. Our end of the year meeting and pot-luck dinner was held October 23rd at Ongwanada. Here our retiring executive (Suzanne Bodner - Past Captain, Cathy Depew - Captain, Deb Schutt and Alison Ahara - Co-Assistant Captains, Carla Burr - Secretary, Dianne Johnston - Treasurer, Julie Blasko - Race Coordinator) were thanked for their efforts in 2007 and a new and keen executive for the 2008 season elected.

The new executive consists of:

  • Captain: Sheila Kearney
  • Co-Assistant Captains: Helen Tolles and Mary Peel
  • Secretary: Jane Kitchen
  • Treasurer: Dianne Johnston
  • Race Coordinator: Alison Ahara
  • Past Captains: Suzanne Bodner and Cathy Depew

Our final event of the year was a very enjoyable pot luck luncheon held at St. John's Anglican Church in Portsmouth Village. The church hall proved to be a perfect size for our group, our families and friends, and members of the BCAK Board. The well-equipped kitchen made the serving and enjoyment of the always yummy pot-luck donations a breeze. Thanks so much to all those elves who came early to set up and decorate and the many kitchen elves who did an exceptional clean-up job.

Chestmates is pleased to welcome six new teammates (so far) for 2008 and we were delighted to have the opportunity to meet and welcome them at the fall events. In only a few weeks we will be showing them the “catch”, “return” and “exit” as we try out a new venue for our pool practices - the Kingston Military Community Sports Centre pool. We are so fortunate to have Shannon McCarty of Queen's University returning for her third year of coaching us in the pool. Can't wait to hear it…… “paddles up!!!!”

Thanks again to BCAK for its ongoing support of this wonderful program. We are so grateful!