To Whom It May Concern

From: International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission

Re: Breast Cancer Dragon Boating

Date:  31st May 2025

The International Breast Cancer Paddler’s Commission (IBCPC, ibcpc.com ) is an international organization whose mandate is to encourage the establishment of breast cancer dragon boat teams, within the framework of participation and inclusiveness. For many years, the IBCPC has had its eyes on South and Central America. Not just because Breast Cancer Survivors paddling did not have any activity there, but also because we have been concerned about the statistics for the continent. “Breast cancer is the most common cancer and leading cause of death for Latin America. Several countries exhibit some of the highest mortality rates in the world.” [source: Susan G. Komen ]

IBCPC not only encourages the establishment of breast cancer dragon boat teams, but also promotes a healthy, active lifestyle for breast cancer survivors and provides organized opportunities for physical fitness and social empowerment among them, their families, and supporters.

We are extremely pleased that this activity started in Brazil over ten years ago and that there are now many teams in Brazil under the umbrella of Remadoras Rosas do Brazil.  You can find the listed on the IBCPC website.  All these teams are part of the international community. Together we generate breast cancer awareness and help non-affected women to practice breast health: they become more likely to see their doctor and get screening tests; they become less afraid of what the outcome may be as they see us living an active healthy lifestyle.  As breast cancer paddlers we become a visual representation that sends a strong and powerful message that there is a healthy life after a diagnosis of breast cancer. Even these survivors’ families will experience fewer stigmas that are associated with a diagnosis of breast cancer. And most importantly our presence encourages the local medical community to reach out to these people, making the screening process easier and more readily available.

The growth not just in Brazil but across the globe has been phenomenal. We are now almost 400 teams across 40 countries and 6 continents. Brazil has been one of our fastest growing regions.

Dragon boats are the boats we use. There are no other options that fulfil what dragon boats provide:

—  Strenuous, repetitive upper body activity,

—  Predictable improvements in fitness

—  Non-weight bearing

—  Powerful training stimulus

—  Variable training stimulus

—  Connection to the environment

—  22 paddlers on board (team sport)

—  Extensive camaraderie

The sport itself has many benefits specific to people treated for breast cancer. Empirical research has proven that with adequate dry-land training the paddlers will experience:

·       improved cardiovascular system.

·       improved immune system.

·       Increase in range of motion.

·       decrease in fatigue and depression.

·       rebuilding of the affected areas

·       general wellbeing and happiness.

These teams that are forming will find that joining a dragon boat team will change there lives forever by having accessibility to the dragon boats.

Meri Gibson

Global President

IBCPC