A dragon boat team called The Buoyant Buddies, made up of breast cancer survivors and supporters, has donated $500 to the cancer care unit at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.
The Buoyant Buddies paddle on beautiful Swan Lake near Vernon, B.C., and welcome paddlers from across the North Okanagan to join them on the water throughout the season. Each year, the team raises funds through raffles, wine basket draws, silent auctions, and community sponsorships. Their donation coincides with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to support those affected by breast cancer and raise awareness. For the Buoyant Buddies, dragon boating is more than a sport, as it is about strength, healing, and celebrating life after cancer.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, about 2,600 people in British Columbia will hear the words “You have breast cancer” this year. The society shared the data in October to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
