About Us
Boobops embrace the camaraderie of Dragon Boating where we can enjoy not only the company of each other as Breast Cancer Survivors, but also the health benefits associated with the exercise of the upper body, core and mental strength. We paddle to support each other to stay strong and have heaps of fun doing it.
Dragon Boating and BCS have a deep-rooted history and a strong partnership, founded in 1996 when a Canadian sports medicine specialist, Dr Don McKenzie challenged the thinking that BCS should refrain from strenuous activity. He inspired BCS to come together in dragon boat teams because he believed it would benefit their physical health and social wellbeing. More recent studies have proven the benefits of exercise after breast cancer treatment.
Boobops currently have an active team membership of 50. We are a diverse group of women (no men yet) that all have one thing in common, the history of breast cancer and we would never have met without having this diagnosis. Some of our team members have been paddling over 18 years and are our founding members. We are all so thankful to have found the SILVER LINING of our breast cancer journey having found this team. Although we all support each other off the water, when in the boat we leave our journeys behind us at the jetty and find freedom of being on the water and focussing on the sport we love. Dragon boating requires synchronicity of all paddlers and the feeling of well-being is contagious. Some paddlers say they are not competitive by nature, but they soon learn they are more competitive than they ever thought. The feeling at the end of an extremely close finish is exhilarating. We do enjoy the new mental and physical strength we gain from the sport which rolls over into all parts of our lives.
Boobops currently range in age from their 30’s through to their 80s! Some of our fittest are our more mature paddlers. BCS have their own division in regattas throughout the world and we always look forward to meeting our sisters from near and far on the water.