Seven members of the Cape Breastoners Dragon Boat Team will be travelling to France in August to compete in an international race on the country’s largest glacial lake. Both co-presidents of the team, Terri Lynn Fougere of Dominion (left) and Carole MacLeod of Glace Bay are cancer survivors and team members who will paddle at the races in France. The two women sat at the door and sold tickets on a basket at a craft market in Gardiner Mines Saturday to raise funds for the trip. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton PostArticle contentSeven women from Cape Breton who are breast cancer survivors have been raising money for a trip to France in August to compete in an international Dragon Boat competition. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThe women will be participating in the 2026 IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival which is held every four years. The event is sponsored by the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission (IBCPC), an international organization that encourages the formation of breast cancer dragon boat teams around the world. The festival will take place on the shores of Lac du Bourget, France’s largest natural glacial lake. Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe women will spend 16 days in various parts of France during their travels, including Paris. Article content“We’re doing this to be in solidarity with others,” says Terri Lynn Fougere of Dominion, who will be paddling in her first international race. Article contentShe was diagnosed with cancer when she was only 35 years old and had a two-year-old at home. She has been living cancer-free for the last nine years. Article content The Cape Breastoners Dragon Boat Team had a craft market on the weekend in Gardiner Mines where they sold tickets for draws to raise money for seven members of the team to travel to France in August. Dragon boat teams exist all around the world and consist of breast cancer survivors. Above, Brenda Roach, the mother of a member, was selling tickets on a beautiful wreath and homemade baking at the sale. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton PostArticle contentGlace Bay’s Carole MacLeod, a 23-year cancer survivor has competed in many races outside Canada. Article content“Just being with survivors from all over the world is exciting,” she says. “It’s the camaraderie that is so wonderful.” Article contentBoth Fougere and MacLeod are co-presidents of the Cape Breastoners Dragon Boat Team. Each of the seven women participating from Cape Breton must raise $12,000 to attend. Over the weekend, a special craft market was held in Gardner Mines with proceeds going to the group. Article contentArticle contentThe international races are held every four years, so the team has been fundraising for that whole time. Each boat has about 22 members with it. The seven Cape Breton women will join others from across Nova Scotia to form a provincial team. Other teams are being formed across Canada. Article content Crafting is a passion for Bridgeport’s Mary MacIsaac, above, who holds one of her tabletop decorations made out of a discarded book. She says she spends her whole year making crafts and not all are for Christmas. She likes to recycle everyday items such as vases and books to turn them into something beautiful and useful. Over the weekend, she was one of the vendors at a special Market in Gardiner Mines that raised money for the Cape Breastoners Dragon Boat team. ROSEMARY GODIN/Cape Breton PostArticle contentArticle contentTHE COMPETITIONArticle contentThere are over 390 IBCPC member teams from over 41 different countries eligible to compete in 2026. Article contentThe IBCPC is an international organization that aims to establish breast cancer dragon boat teams around the world promoting participation and inclusivity. Article contentThe whole dragon boat movement for cancer survivors began in Canada in 1996. It has become an international health movement and was begun by a sports medicine specialist named Don McKenzie during his time at the University of British Columbia. Article content Steerperson Sandy Nicholson, back, looks on as members of the Cape Breastoners dragon boat team paddles during practice near the Mira Boat Club. Some of the members shown in the picture are Sue LeBlanc, Carole MacLeod, Heather MacLeod, Jeannie Keeping, Cathy Lawrence, Theresa Doucette, Peggy MacLellan, Ruby Wilson and Eileen Gilday Flynn. Photo by Jeremy Fraser /Cape Breton PostArticle contentHe published a paper in 1998 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal describing a dragon boat team he formed in 1996 for breast cancer survivors as a form of physical and emotional therapy.
Cape Breton cancer survivors to dip toes and paddles in French lake
