Mexico Outreach 2024
It's always wonderful to share positive news, and it's even better when it involves an outreach event!
The outreach initiatives in Mexico began in 2019. In March 2023, during the Pan American Club Crew Championship held in Panama City, the Colombian breast cancer team, Pink Pirates, raced and inspired the first Mexican dragon boat team to help with the establishment of a breast cancer team in Mexico.
A door opened. It was a nice feeling. The idea of an outreach event was expressed right away to the boat owner and club members. Their enthusiasm surpassed the notion of hosting an outreach event for a symbolic breast cancer dragon boat festival. Everything stated to run very fast since that first meeting in March. By mid August the first Mexican team Kukulkan Sam Chack, pink dragon in Mayan, started paddling with support of the dragon boat club and the medical community.
During the first weekend of February 2024, the Outreach event unfolded within the ROSA MEXICANO Dragon Boat Festival, the inaugural festival of its kind in Mexico. Held at Fátima Beach in Puerto Aventuras, 70 km south of Cancun, the participatory festival featured 500m and 2,000m races, as well as a 200m knockouts.
A composite outreach crew accompanied Dr. Don McKenzie in this endeavour. Members of Abreast In A Boat (coauthors of this article), members of Linked in Pinks and Save Our Sisters gathered to meet the Mexican novices, the medical and paddling community. Surprisingly, some of the novices were already experienced paddlers, having trained extensively as members of the first team throughout the latter half of 2023. Not to say also that few doctors, breast cancer survivors as well were members of the new team.
We were delighted to meet other novices, although it's worth noting that they were all young ladies who had never been on a dragon boat before. They joined from Queretaro (north of Mexico City), Cozumel Island, and Cancun. Unfortunately, the ladies from Mazatlán, who are looking to start a team on the Pacific coast, couldn't join us physically, but their spirits were with us. Additionally, a lovely novice from Caracas, Venezuela, also joined the outreach.
The four-day event had a tight schedule comprised of paddling technique workshops early in the mornings for either advanced and unexperienced novices, medical conferences, and races. It was very nice to see how the support of the community, doctors, and dragon boat club work together. It makes so much easy the development of any team.
The medical conferences conducted by Creer Oncología professionals (some of them also breast cancer survivors) lasted approximately two hours each day. They covered topics such as the doctor-patient relationship, nutrition, coping with losses (the loss of freedom during treatment, accepting changes in one's body, and losing hair among other topics). And last, a workshop about how to support the supporter/caregivers. One especially meaningful aspect of the outreach is the vital role of supporters. It underscores not only their support for us but also our support for them, especially in terms of aiding family members and caregivers. Indeed, the results of the workshop on this topic featured messages from survivors and family members. Some of these are included: “Infinite gratitude to my husband and my children, they saved my life with their optimism” (from a Novice); “Thank you for teaching me to enjoy today. Thank you for teaching me what it means to have a zest for life...” (from a Supporter).
Dr. Don’s Conference was outstanding. The local doctors were proud of supporting the breast cancer survivors and their paddling activity following Dr. Don message of hope.
On the sunny Sunday morning, the inaugural Flower Ceremony deeply touched paddlers, doctors, and members of the community.
The journey of outreach is a remarkable but lengthy process, often spanning months and months and sometimes even years before establishing the first team in a new country, especially where dragon boating is not developed, and resources are scarce. Kayaks may temporarily serve as vessels until dragon boats arrive. Continuous support is crucial throughout, helping the new team solidify and possibly sparking the formation of more teams. While the development of teams doesn't always lead to an outreach event when it does occur it proves to be immensely beneficial.
We extend immense gratitude for the donation of AIAB shirts.
There is nothing we can’t do together. Working together, sharing our experience is the only way to move forward.
Written by Adriana Bartoli, Gerry and Greg Sharpe