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Nov 4, 2007 9:25 pm US/Eastern
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Race To "Save Our Sisters"
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
One recent Saturday Morning I got up early to do a story about a dragon boat racing team. Every week this team meets to practice off Key Biscayne, it's a glorious setting. On the water with the skyline in the background. The members are new to the sport of Dragon Boat Racing- But that doesn't mean they're not as passionate as the others.
These team members use pink paddles and wear pink visors with "S.O.S" IN BIG LETTERS on the front. That stands for SAVE OUR SISTERS. Save our sisters…from breast cancer.
All of the women on this team are breast cancer survivors and what struck me that morning is how proud they are to shout to the world "WE ARE SURVIVORS." Every time they put the paddle in the water and pull through with strength pushing their boat faster and faster – they are saying we are living a full, active and challenging life.
The captain of the team is Kim Bonomo. A woman with boundless amounts of energy and a constant smile. She was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago – fought the disease and won. She says she sees the paddle as a tool to beat breast cancer.
She told me that morning that when she found out that she had breast cancer, she was devastated. She had a husband she loved and son she didn't want to leave.
But now Kim says breast cancer changed her life for the better. And I heard so many other survivors say the same thing. Kim says she doesn't work as much now. She spends more time with her family. She bought the sports car she really wanted, instead of getting something more practical. She truly lives each moment of life.
What a great lesson that Kim and the other breast cancer survivors on the S.O.S. team can teach all of us. Just get in the boat and paddle – and have fun.
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