OUR TEAM ACTIVITIES
The Abreast A River dragon boat team members wish to extend thanks to the community for wonderful public and financial support. The team is especially grateful for those funds generated by Race on the River.

Funds raised have allowed us to change from a group that simply supported each other to a group able to make important changes for the better in the field of breast cancer.

   
 

DISTRIBUTING THE FUNDS WE RAISE
As of June 2007, we use donated funds for the following purposes:

1 We assist breast cancer patients with exceptional financial needs brought on by their illness. Not all needs are covered under some medical plans. With donated funds we are able to provide such things as breast prosthesis, prosthetic lingerie, wigs, or lymphedema treatments. These are all very costly items.
2 We make donations toward breast cancer research. Some of these donated funds are made in memory of deceased teammates.
3 We have donated considerable funds for furniture and equipment to the Lodge That Gives, Halifax, N.S. A sizable financial donation was also made in memory of one of our deceased teammates.
4 We have provided tape players with relaxing musical tapes for the use of breast cancer patients while undergoing chemotherapy treatments at the Aberdeen Hospital. We know that this assists in relieving tension, stress or fears associated with receiving chemotherapy.
5 We have made several sizable financial gifts to the Aberdeen Hospital Palliative Care fund.
6 We have purchased an Oxygen Concentrator for the Aberdeen Hospital. This machine allows palliative cancer patients to remain in their own home at such a critical time.
7 We have directed funds toward a very successful documentary film featuring the Abreast A River Team, which premiered at the Atlantic Film Festival in 2005. This film will continue to be a great awareness tool in raising breast cancer awareness for many years to come.
8

We have spent funds on several "celebrating five years" laminated photo posters. Two will hang in the Aberdeen Hospital - one on the surgery floor and one in the chemotherapy unit.
  The happy and vibrant faces of the dragon boaters will remind "newly operated-on" patients and those undergoing chemotherapy that there can be a wonderful life beyond current hard times.
9

We have funded the creation of informational rack cards explaining our dragon boat program. These have been distributed to all doctors for hand-out use in their offices.
  All pharmacies in Pictou, Westville, Stellarton, Trenton, Truro and New Glasgow have been supplied with these cards. They are also available at the New Glasgow library. The remaining cards become part of the informational package (known as the pink rose project) given to each breast cancer patient following their surgery at the Aberdeen Hospital.
10

We support our dragon boat program through maintenance, storage and insurance costs for our boat and its equipment. Paddles have been provided by team funds, however some team members have chosen to pay for their own paddles. Life jackets have been kindly donated to the team through the Bruce Murray Family Foundation. Team funds also provide one uniform shirt. Team members wishing to own more than one shirt purchase the extras with their own funds. Our much appreciated wet-weather jackets have been donated by Pharmacare drugstores.

  Trips taken by the team are only partially subsidized by Abreast A River funds. Members traveling as part of the Abreast A River team to any breast cancer racing event must pay more than half the travel cost from their own personal funds. Team members who are not able to do this may be helped through team funds.
11 Funds have been sent to Dalhousie University and are being uesed by an oncology student doing Breast Cancer research.
12 We have assisted with the purchase of a Sentinal Node Biopsy Machine, Digital Cove Biopsy and Spot Imaging Equipment for the Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow.
   
  Our aim has been and continues to be to provide as much joy and wellness within the cancer community as we can manage. We also aim to create a climate of awareness for the general public. It is through this awareness that funds are generated to be used in the ongoing battle for control of breast cancer. We carefully direct all possible funds where we feel it will have the most positive impact.
   
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HOW WE STARTED
In October 1998 a few members of the Women Alike Breast Cancer Survivors Society met at the Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow, Pictou County. Nova Scotia. Their objective was to create a dragon boat team. The community, local business, corporations and many individuals provided much financial and moral support. With the launch of our Six Sixteen dragon boat on the East River, New Glasgow, June 30th1999, we became the first breast cancer team east of Montreal to own our own boat.

Team activities have generated many thousands of dollars.Some of this supports our dragon boat program. Much more is directed toward needed supports and services for breast cancer patients, equipment for our local hospital and a cancer care lodge in Halifax, N.S. We donate toward breast cancer research and currently have several other important projects under way.

It has been our priviledge to receive the ongoing support and confidence of the community.
   
  PROMOTING AWARENESS
We have strong team goals. We believe any breast cancer survivor who wishes to paddle should have that opportunity. We promote awareness through team activities, public events and displays, and with a monthly newspaper column Dragon Tales appearing in the Pictou Advocate Newspaper.
   
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  "The Dragon symbolizes success, prosperity and good luck. The spirit of the dragon guards its human cargo from the forces of nature."