5 Tips from a Dragon BOAT CAncer survivor

Cancer. COVID. Radiation. Surgery. A canceled Caribbean vacation.

Most people would slow down. My friend Sue joined a dragon boat racing team. 🚣‍♀️🩷

When I asked if I could interview her for my blog about resilience after cancer, she said:

“Absolutely… but after my Mahjong game is finished.” 😂 That’s Sue!

We met over 20 years ago when our boys were in daycare together. She has never been one to sit still—always planning little adventures and getting everyone moving.

Her cancer diagnosis came at the start of COVID, already a time filled with fear and uncertainty. Radiation and reconstructive surgery overlapped with social isolation, kids suddenly home from school, and a canceled Caribbean vacation.

But Sue kept moving forward.

-Pickleball.

-Paddleboarding.

-Rollerblading (including an injury she still won’t forgive herself for 😄).

-Bunco and Mahjong nights.

-And a new puppy named Milo. 🐾

Then came something even more powerful.

Sue joined the Kansas City Pink Warriors, a dragon boating team made up entirely of cancer survivors—from their 30s to their 70s. 🚣‍♀️

What she found there was more than exercise.

• It was camaraderie.

• Sisterhood.

• A built-in support system for both the good days and the hard ones.

And make no mistake—these women are serious paddlers. They compete in more than five competitions each year, and they have the medals to prove it. 💪

When I asked Sue what resilience looks like after cancer, she shared the lessons below.

✨ 5 Tips from a Dragon Boater & Cancer Survivor:

🩷 Camaraderie and connection are the true gold

🩷 Sisterhood fuels motivation and knowledge

🩷 Don’t be defined by cancer, be reinvented (Sue became a successful athlete!)

🩷 Being on or around water brings joy and peace—find your water

🩷 Keep moving forward… one paddle stroke at a time

Next stop for Sue and her team:

The 2026 Breast Cancer Dragon Boat World Championships in France!!

Go Sue. Go Pink Warriors. Paddle on. 🚣‍♀️🩷