Survivors • Athletes • Champions
Meet Phoenix Desert Dragons, Arizona's only breast cancer survivor dragon boat team.
Dragon Boating has been proven to increase the overall health and length of survival while decreasing the incidence of lymphedema following treatment for Breast Cancer Survivors.
Dragon boat paddling is beneficial as a core and endurance exercise, and it is a sport that is accessible for people from all abilities and walks of life. In addition, it is a place for survivors to "relate" to others that have been through diagnosis and treatment. The friendships formed and an unofficial "support network" are added benefits. Phoenix Desert Dragons practice twice weekly and are provided with additional fitness challenges to perform off the water to enhance their strength and endurance.
The team represented Arizona in Florence, Italy in 2018 at the International Breast Cancer Paddler's Commission conference and competition. Phoenix Desert Dragons placed in the upper 25% of all the teams represented worldwide!
The goal of the Phoenix Desert Dragons team is to extend our support network to better serve the many women and men diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the Phoenix area by encouraging them to lead full and active lives.
The Phoenix Desert Dragons, AZDBA’s Breast Cancer Survivor Team, would like to raise funds for the purpose of defraying the costs of race entry fees for local, regional, and national competitions, team gear/equipment, promotional items, paddling, racing, and coaching equipment/tools/clinics. In addition, the team would like to raise funds for the purpose of defraying costs of the registration, lodging, and travel expenses for the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission Dragon Boat Festival anticipated in 2026.
List of Needs:
$2000: Minimum of 2 team registration costs for local, regional, national
$2000: Team gear for replacement/new purchase
$1200: Paddling/racing/coaching equipment such as Cox Box, Speed Coach, Apple apps
$200: 10 hours of City of Tempe Chase Boat Rental time
$500: Promotional items such as business cards, vendor registration, etc.
$1000: Coaching Clinic for coach
$15,000: Team registration for IBCPC festival
$30,000: Lodging
$30,000: Airfare to/from festival location
Total Fundraising Target:
$82,000.00
**The Phoenix Desert Dragons frequently receives donations from local organizations, which are outside the scope of our fundraising efforts. Donations received for the Phoenix Desert Dragons shall be allocated to the team and used for the purposes listed above.
