campaign in Salmon Arm in 2022

Our dragon boat team gives out carnations and breast cancer prevention message to ladies at Picadilly Mall, the Supercentre, and Askews. 

 The purpose of Shuswap Dragon Boat Society is:

• To promote the awareness of Breast Cancer
• To encourage an active lifestyle
• To send a positive message to those living with Breast Cancer
• To honour the memory of those unable to take up the paddle

Friends Abreast achieves these goals through many activities.   Our boat proudly wears the pink ribbon, advertising to all that we are a Breast Cancer Dragon Boat team. We participate in festivals, including the carnation ceremonies that take place to honour those who have battled this disease.

Besides dragon boating, we have participated in various walks and runs to support other charitable causes in our area.   We believe that our activity and our visibility are a positive message to the larger community.   As well, we have financially supported many students in post-secondary education through scholarships for students who have had a close family member that has battled breast cancer.  

We realize that early detection saves lives, and so encourage mammograms.   To promote this, we typically hand out carnations during October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month.   Each flower includes a card with information on how to book a mammogram.   We have also donated bookmarks printed with the same information to local bookstores and the library.   In past years, we have entered a float in the Fall Fair Parade and handed out this information that way.   We are currently supporting the Shuswap Lake Hospital Foundation fundraising efforts towards a local mammography unit.  

Also we want to recognize the following former members who have passed on.  

Linda Barrett - founding member

Kate Froment - founding member

Betty Miege - founding member

Shirley Kiegerl - breast cancer victim

Maria McCallum - breast cancer survivor and team supporter

Nel Peach - breast cancer survivor, team member, supporter

Maureen Sim - breast cancer victim

Val Soper - breast cancer victim

Pat Eveleigh - member

Audrey Szafranski - breast cancer survivor and founding member

Marilyn Follack - founding member, paddler, breast cancer victim

Joan Davies - founding member