Of course, there are many team sports like soccer, handball, or volleyball, and the individual players on such teams need the ability to work together, but paddling teams are more intense.

There’s a well-known saying in dragon boat racing:

“Twentytwo Hearts – One Soul on Fire!”—which simply means that there is a sense of unity here, with everyone sharing a common goal. There is a harmony within the team that is second to none. The same applies to the six-person team in a outrigger canoe.

This bond extends beyond training sessions and time spent in the boat during a regatta. It goes much further.

Aside from the fact that studies have shown that team sports have a positive effect on cancer patients, this group provides mutual support. It’s not about wallowing in each other’s misfortune, but rather about experiencing and sharing the joy of sports and physical activity together.

Let’s not kid ourselves. Of course, this group will also cry together, because breast cancer cannot always be cured, and there may be relapses and losses within the group. But the pink paddling family supports one another through every storm and also shares their fears and grief.