Laurie is excited to participate with other Canadian women in the 2009 Vogalonga in Venice Italy and can't think of a better way to celebrate 5 years since diagnosis. Laurie absolutely loves dragon boating with Abreast In A Boat in Vancouver. During chemotherapy treatments she participated in a study on "Exercise and Chemotherapy" and went to a special cancer gym three times a week. It was difficult at times but found working out with other gals with breast cancer was fun and they were able to support each other through their treatments. Learning the proper way to lift weights, workout on the machines and run on the treadmill taught her to enjoy exercising. Laurie looks forward to walking, hiking, yoga, the gym, and of course dragon boating.
Eleanor Nielsen
Eleanor is a happily retired ex nurse, who is busier in retirement than while working. Eleanor co-founded the Toronto breast cancer dragon boat team, Dragons Abreast in 1997. She is a member of the Steering Committee for the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission and started the Ontario Breast Cancer Dragon Boat Network in 2003. She is an active volunteer for many organizations. She was an advisor for a research project on Psychosocial Benefits of Dragon Boating for Women with Breast Cancer and was the inspiration for the book, How to Ride a Dragon: women with breast cancer tell their stories, Michelle Tocher, Key Porter, 2002. Eleanor and her husband, Charles, have 5 children and 6 grandchildren between them and enjoy running, cross country skiing, opera, theatre and reading.
Janet Plant
I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2004. After a gruelling round of treatment including a single mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation, I have been cancer free for almost 5 years now. Last summer I had reconstructive surgery and feel I have finally finished my treatment. Dragon boating with Abreast in a Boat has been a golden opportunity to get healthy again, meet a wonderful new set of friends, and be a part of a positive organization which is showing the world that women can live an active and healthy life after treatment for breast cancer. I not only Dragon boat but am also an avid jogger, bicyclist, kayaker, hiker, skier, and gardener. My husband and I love to travel and have done several fun trips since finishing treatment. Some trips include hiking trips in the Grand Canyon, Spain, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, and Turkey. Life is always interesting and my husband and I intend to live life to the full for as long as possible! I am very excited about coming to Venice in May and look forward to meeting our fellow Italian breast cancer survivors. Who said there wasn't life after breast cancer... nonsense!
Melody Richards
In mid-life and love it, feeling fabulous! Born in London, England and have lived in beautiful Vancouver, Canada for almost 30 years. Also lived in Sydney, Australia. Married to a Steel man with one 28 year old son who is a Cruise Director for Royal Caribbean (more travel!) Diagnosed in 2004 and had a Lumpectomy, Chemotherapy and Radiation. Wore 3 different wigs during treatment, flaming red, blonde and brunette! Still wear them once in a while for fun! No one understands more about breast cancer and how you feel, more than another breast cancer survivor. I also love to paddle because it is relaxing and so joyful to be on the water and outdoors. For the last year and a half I have been helping my sister who was also diagnosed with breast cance. I am a Realtor, selling real estate for 21 years and have really enjoyed my career! I'm active in my community with many philanthropic projects and on the Executive of my sorority group over last 20 years.
Tina Scorda
Tina is from Vancouver, BC and was diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer at the young age of 33. Her treatment consisted of chemotherapy, radiation, partial mastectomy and more chemotherapy. It has been over four years and she has proved that with determination, prayer, support from family and friends and the will to fight the disease is what got her through it. She is glad to be here to make a difference in our world and bring awareness to breast cancer. She has participated in several breast cancer awareness campaigns to raise money for treatment, education and prevention. The most exciting adventures are those times she spent dragon boat paddling with fellow breast cancer survivors, in Vancouver, Singapore and Hong Kong. This year she is thrilled to be participating in the 35th Vogalonga in Venezia with her fellow Italian and Canadian breast cancer survivors. She hopes their presence will inspire those living with breast cancer that a full and active live is possible.
Carol Stanfield
Born in South Africa, Carol grew up in London, England. She has lived and worked in the West Indies, Montreal and Cape Town before finally settling in West Vancouver in 1973. Carol and Derek were married in 1990 and moved from Vancouver to their seaside home in Gibsons in 2002. Between them they have three sons, one daughter living in Kenya (who was married in the garden in May), and three lovely grandchildren. Carol started dragon boat paddling in 2001 with Abreast In A Boat, and what an incredible difference it made to her...there really is life after breast cancer! In 2005 she helped start a breast cancer team on the Sunshine Coast and had the wonderful opportunity to attend the 10 Years Abreast celebration in Vancouver and the 10th Anniversary in Australia. Carol is excited to be participating in the Vogalonga, as well as paddling in Florence and staying at a villa in Umbria with her sister from England. When not paddling, Carol enjoys spending time in the garden, attending fitness and yoga classes, as well as sailing with Derek and hanging out with the grandchildren.
Nora Stevenson
Nora is a life-long Vancouver resident who began dragon boating with Abreast In A Boat in 2006 and has paddled every season since then. In addition to dragon boating she enjoys biking, skiing, walking, yoga and Pilates. In her free time she makes silver jewellery and gardens. Nora has her own real-estate development consulting business. She is looking forward to spreading the message of breast cancer awareness at the Vogalonga in Venice this year.
Yvonne Stich
In 2006/2007 Yvonne undertook a series of treatments for breast cancer. The whole experience, as they say was life changing. Her husband, family and friends were vital to making it through diagnosis, treatment and then recovery. The experience of joining a local dragon boat breast cancer survivor team at the tail end of her treatment gave her the courage, joy and belief in the possibility of a healthy future. Yvonne believes that there is the personal physical wellness that comes from being active. The emotional strength that comes from joining with other women who understand and inspire each other to be the best they can. Yvonne leaned many things. One of them is not to wait for the perfect moment in life but to find the joy in each moment. She is married to a very supportive man, Frank Van Soldt, and she works as a city park planner.
Cheryl Watson
Cheryl is thrilled to be paddling in Italy again! In 2002, she was fortunate to be a member of an international crew made up of Canadians and Australians .She went to Rome to raise Breast cancer awareness and subsequently with the aid of a wonderful women named Orlanda the first Italian breast cancer dragon boat team was formed. Cheryl was diagnosed in 1995 and started paddling in 2001. Meeting several courageous women and spreading our message of hope has enriched her life. A nurse by profession. She lives with her husband Rick, and we have two awesome adult sons. She feels honoured to be part of the Vogalonga adventure.
Jenny Yule
Jenny is from Vancouver, British Columbia and was born and educated in Wales. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1982 when her children were four and seven. She began paddling with Abreast In A Boat ( AIAB) in 1997, the second year of breast cancer survivor dragon boat paddling, a team sport that has become an international symbol of breast cancer survivorship. As her first season progressed she came to realise the enormous benefits for all those women literally ‘in the same boat’…the acceptance, the instant camaraderie, the laughter, the understanding, the support, the physical benefits. It was thrilling, in 2005, for her to co-chair with Jane Frost, Ten Years Abreast Celebration in Vancouver. Nearly two thousand paddlers and their supporters from seven countries, including Italy, showed clearly that there is life after a diagnosis of breast cancer. She is delighted to be coming to Italy in May 2009,with her husband Ken, to paddle in the Vogalonga in Venice. As a coach in Vancouver and a member of the steering committee of the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission (IBCPC), supporting national and international participatory events, she continues to be inspired by the words of a recent paddling novice who said:
”Two years ago I was in a black hole in the middle of treatment and everything looked black. One day I saw you guys in fuchsia pink paddling. As I watched I thought, they must have been where I am now and if they can get there and do that then so can I.”
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