The WonderBroads Celebrate 20 Years Of Paddling For A Cure
This year, the WonderBroads Charitable Dragonboat Racing Organization is celebrating 20 years of racing, sisterhood and most importantly, joining together to conquer cancer.
“We have continued growing and competing from those early years and are now a strong committed team of women of varied ages who happen to be breast cancer survivors,” states Peggy Hurley, the team’s current Assistant Coach. “Our values of courage, camaraderie and commitment form the backbone of our team and guide us in all we do.”
Hurley is also one of the founding members of the team and has held many titles over the years, including Captain, Steersperson and “Best of all, Paddler!” she exclaims.
The team practices several times a week at the River Canard Outpost and typically competes in five or six festivals each season.
“Over the years this translates to competing in more than 100 festivals locally, nationally and internationally,” Hurley proudly points out.
Wallaceburg, Brampton and Stratford are common regional races, with Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Vancouver, and St John’s being national ones.
The team has also travelled to Italy, Australia, Ireland, and Florida, with Kentucky being a planned race for this year.
“One of our highlights was actually competing in the Ottawa Ice Dragon Boat Festival — what a first-time experience that was,” recounts Hurley, adding “it feels fantastic to be celebrating 20 years.”
“Knowing that someone always has your back and will always be there for you is pretty special,” she expresses in reference to being part of the team. “We are athletes who thrive on the thrill of competition. We have a chant that says: ’We’ve come here to win the gold; the gold for us is find the cure.’ We want to develop skills, compete and win, but we also want to raise breast cancer awareness and find a happy ending to this terrible disease.”
The WonderBroads currently have 27 active members — eight of whom are founding members.
“I believe this team is of great importance to the community,” asserts Hurley. “Comprised of local ordinary everyday women, it puts a face and a positive spin to breast cancer. These women are just like everyone else and they have conquered disease and fears to have new experiences and learn new skills. They are living well and enjoying life, new friendships, support and teammates.”
Founding member Lynn Chappell says the WonderBroads have been a constant and a rock in her life for the past two decades.
“They pushed me to learn new skills and to prioritize physical fitness,” she comments. “Being part of a team was a first for me and it gave me the strength and encouragement to do something I never dreamed of. These women are my teammates, but also my friends — ones I can always count on to be there for me!”
Jennifer Fraser, also a founding member, believes the WonderBroads are the silver lining to a diagnosis of breast cancer.
“When I was told I had breast cancer, I immediately thought it was a death sentence, but it turned out to be the beginning of a new life,” says Fraser. “Paddling with the team has kept me fit, while enjoying the company and support of amazing fellow paddlers. We are a team in the true sense of the word.”
In addition to the outstanding commitment of team members, as a registered charity, there have also been many sponsors over the years, including Families First, FN Tech, Robert Troup, Troup Group of Companies, Puce River Harbour Marina, the CIBC Run for the Cure and Canadian Cancer Society.
If you too would like to help this incredible group of breast cancer survivors keep their boat afloat, plan to attend their fundraiser — The WonderBroads Second Annual Golf Tournament — August 12 at Belleview Golf Club, 436 Belle River Road, Woodslee.
The registration fee for the four-person scramble is $100 with a $25 tax receipt available. The price includes 18 holes, with a cart, a hotdog and beverage at the turn. Register by July 29 online.
Keep up to date on other upcoming events, the race schedule and news by visiting their website.
