Team Quotes

I'm so proud to be a part of this team, even though I'm really so new, and haven't participated in much yet. Thank you for sharing your stories with the whole community – it's a gift to me and others to hear your stories.
Sharon Savage, supporter, 1 year team member (2008)

Paddling with our sisters gives a sense of the power of synchronicity. The Machestics are a team of soul sisters connected by the energy of survival and the strength of oneness.
Annie Carricato, breast cancer survivor, 2 year team member (2008)

I always feel so uplifted after practice, as if I'd been meditating in some beautiful place.
Martha Otis, breast cancer survivor, 2 year team member (2008)

What do I love about dragon boating? Everything – the challenge, the team spirit, the beautiful sunsets out on the water. It's just like our team song says – "We pound our paddles, bury our blades, and pull with our hearts, our whole is so much more than just the sum of our parts."
Carol Watchler, breast cancer survivor, 4 year team member (2008)
with thanks to songwriter and teammate Donna Gabai

I have found wonderful friendships on our team and always look forward to being on the water with my "sisters." There is a feeling of togetherness that is shared among us. When we are on the water we leave everything else behind, we feel powerful and in control. We feel strong and healthy. "It doesn't matter if we come in first or last in a race because we are already winners!"
Terry Coleman, breast cancer survivor, 7 year team member (2008)

Dragon boating combines my love of the water with exercise and a wonderful sense of camaraderie with other breast cancer survivors.
Baru Saul, breast cancer survivor, 7 year team member (2008)

If you haven't already made time to listen I really urge you to - these wonderful gals did us all proud! We are such an awesome team!! Paddle Strong Live Long!!
Misha Crosbie, breast cancer survivor, 7 year team member (2008)
(commenting on Terry & Carol's WWFM 10/18/08 interview)

I just wanted to send a quick note to all of you to thank you for the experiences I've had with you this year. I've never been on a team sport before and I cannot thank you each enough for your support and caring both on the water and off. Feeling my teammates pull more water when I have gotten tired in the boat really gave me a grounding example of how each of you have also pulled me along emotionally this year. I could physically and emotionally feel that support. I'm so proud of my accomplishments, when I have felt that 'catch' and 'pulled water' and 'drove the paddle deeper', and physically felt my strength and my efforts making a forward momentum on the boat. There is nothing else in my life (even with my big supportive family) that has given me the same physically supportive experience that this team has given me. Aside from the endorphine high of physically being on the team, I cannot put enough significance to the support and caring you all have shown me this year as I got through this new chapter in my life. This experience of being a breast cancer survivor, as a single mom, without a full time job, with an elderly parent to care for, with big and small hurdles in life, that you all have become a part of my success over. The quite moments on the water with rainbows and warm sunrays, the chats on land about our daily lives, the prayers for injured teammates, the hilarious travel activities (Chocolate, stat!), all of these experiences have help me stay connected to what truly matters in this world. Not material goods but personal experiences. But lastly, I have to thank you materially and financially. So many of you have supported my fundraising for my walk that I am overwhelmed with gratitude. You are all new in my life and you are enabling me to spend three days with my actual sisters Gayle and Beth, among other survivors, having an amazing experience of endurance and commaraderie. I hear the 3 day is a life changing event, and I'm looking forward to it. I have to say I will be missing a very important picnic. Being a Machestic Dragon means so much more to me. I had no idea when I joined how much this experience would mean to me this year. (I cry at Hallmark commercials, so of course the tears a flowing now as I write this.)
Amy Sub, breast cancer survivor, first year team member (2009)