ABOUT US
"We have no choice except to get on with our lives as best we can."
~ Theresa Harman, Former Team Member
Survivors Abreast is a group of breast cancer survivors from the Peterorough area who formed a dragon boat team in 1999. We represent women in various stages of treatment and recovery. We have something else in common--strength of spirit. We are committed to living our lives to the fullest and sharing that expectation and hope with others.
[Click on image for larger version]If you see us on the water, we'll be a crew of 20 paddlers wearing shocking pink baseball hats. At the stern is the coxswain who steers the boat. Sitting on the bow and facing the team is our coach, who makes sure our paddling strokes are always in rhythm. But it takes many more people to make up a team. That's why we are always on the look out for new members. Age is not important; members currently are in their 30s to 70s and from all walks of life. All you need to join is:
Meredith Cosburn, affectionately known in Peterborough as the "dragon lady", caught the bug from a good friend in Toronto, Barbara Stewart. Barbara, a breast cancer survivor herself, helped Meredith get through diagnosis, treatment and life "after." She also encouraged Meredith to join a dragon boat team to "live life" as she had done.
After talking to Dorothy Hampton, who started up the Cobourg Survivor Thrivers team, Meredith became more inspired and "grew" the idea of starting Peterborough area's very own team. Dorothy gave her names of people who would make good initial contacts. First stop--a coach. Done. Len Minty, an experienced and enthusiastic dragoneer himself had just retired from teaching in Toronto and had returned to his roots in Peterborough. He jumped at the chance to help out.
Another milestone was getting the support of Peterborough Hospital as the team's official sponsor. Dr. Rowson, chief of surgery at the hospital, was instrumental in this. He and three other doctors donated $1,000 each for a much-needed down payment towards a dragon boat for the team.
So Meredith, her husband Larry and a co-worker and sister survivor, Charlene Vaughan, huddled together to begin the planning--without any previous fundraising experience. They distributed flyers everywhere and got their first story published in the Peterborough Examiner on October 23, 1999. The full-page coverage sparked enough interest for Liberty Mutual to fund the dragon boat built by Glenn Fallis of Voyageur Canoe.
Survivors Abreast held their first official meeting, with 29 women on November 18, 1999. They planned their first public event, being part of the Santa Claus Parade. Len Minty, their coach, thanks to the generosity of the YMCA, arranged for the team to start practicing by the side of the pool using special, slightly smaller practice paddles during the winter. The team's goal was to prepare for the real thing--dragon boat competitions during the summer and fall in Pickering and Toronto.
Joan Bates ,President
Carol Mutton, Past President
Billie O'Dette, Treasurer
Evelyn Moiser, Secretary
Lynn Utter, Director
Meredith Cosburn, Director
Linda Adams, Team Captain