Come join the Juggernauts this May

THE Dragons Abreast Geelong Juggernauts dragon boating group are calling on all women, men, survivors and supporters to attend a series of come and try sessions each Saturday morning in May.

Made up of women who have either endured or are in remission from breast cancer, the Juggernauts paddle each week at the Barwon River and pride themselves on being a group built on connection and friendship.

Having enjoyed two decades of celebrating breast cancer recovery through physical activity, the Geelong group presently has 25 members and are showing no signs of slowing down.

Juggernauts member Valentina McLean said the hope was to run the come and try days for locals to experience the principles of participation, awareness and inclusiveness.

“I joined more than three years ago as a supporter of my friend who had breast cancer and within a week of hearing about it, I was in the boat,” Juggernauts member Valentina McLean said.

“It’s such a friendly group and is all about support and connecting with others in the community.

“For me as a supporter and not a survivor, I was just welcomed in with open arms… our paddling group is for everyone no matter their ability.”

The idea of dragon boating for breast cancer survivors began in 1996 in Canada and since then chapters have been set up all over the world.

The action of paddling and upper body exercise has been recognised through research to be helpful for mastectomy recovery, thus the activity becoming popular with breast cancer survivors.

“The paddling all helps start off the body system again for any survivors,” Mrs McLean said.

“It’s a massive ordeal obviously having your breasts off, so for them to jump into Ruby [the Geelong boat] to paddle, it helps out immensely with physical recovery but also mentally and socially.”

The come and try sessions will be run each Saturday in May (May 6, 13, 20 and 27) and will be followed by afternoon tea.

Those interested are to meet at the Geelong Canoe Club at 1/11 Marnock Road, Newtown, Geelong.

For more information, head to the Dragons Abreast Geelong – Juggernauts page on Facebook.