Oct 15, 2007 7:23 pm US/Eastern
Breast Cancer Survivors Fight Back On Dragon Boat
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KEY BISCAYNE (CBS4) ―
A group of South Florida breast cancer survivors is finding strength and sisterhood on the water aboard a dragon boat.
Team "Save Our Sisters" practice paddling in the waters off Miami Beach on a long skinny boat, known as a dragon boat.
Dragon boat racing, which originated in China, signifies power to one group of people. Team "Save Our Sisters" is a breast cancer support group that decided to hit the water to stay healthy.
Survivor Kim Bonomo spoke to
CBS4'S Shannon Hori. She's healthy now and grateful for every second.
"Two years ago I got the word I had breast cancer. It was a devastating day. I thought about my husband, my kid, there are still people on this earth who need me and I have more work to do. I'm not ready. I have to fight this," said Bonomo who is also the team co-captain.
That's exactly what she did with a group of other women who are literally in the same boat.
Their paddles are pink and so are their visors because the color pink is used to raise awareness about breast cancer. There's also an SOS on their dragon boat, which stands for "Save Our Sisters".
But this dragon boating team doesn't only row to beat the competition, they also row to beat breast cancer.
It's growing in popularity and there are more and more teams like this one made up of breast cancer survivors.
"I get out there, the paddle is like my utensil, my tool, I beat the cancer with this paddle," said Bonomo.
When it comes to paddling, it's not about who's strongest or fastest, it's about working together as a team, to beat breast cancer.
Paddling is also a healthy form of exercise for survivors. Benefits include improving the immune system, bone building and helping rebuild areas of the chest and arms affected by cancer and surgery.
The women get their strength from each other, knowing that the other women paddling with them have gone through the same thing.
"The knowledge of being in one with them. I know I was diagnosed in 2000 and had my treatments, but you're always a survivor," said Nida Recabo, a breast cancer survivor.
"This group got me going again and it's very empowering," said Fleur Lobree, a breast cancer survivor.
"Out there, we're like athletes, we chant. We're a team," added Bonomo.
It's a true tale of triumph using a dragon to slay the demons of disease and empower breast cancer survivors.
Team "SOS" practices two to three times a month at the Miami Rowing Club.
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