Gainesville woman on breast cancer survivor team

UNDATED - A Gainesville woman is one of six from out area making plans for a trip to Canada next month to help raise awareness and hope for breast cancer survivors. Helen Ray, vice president for academic affairs at Brenau University, is a breast cancer survivor as are all the other members of the team - 20 in all.

Ray and the others are members of a Dragon Boat team that will be participating in international competition in Vancouver, British Columbia. Dragon Boat Atlanta includes students, grandmothers, business executives and educators - and has been together for about a year.

"This is about much more than paddling," said Beverly Booth of Sandy Springs, team leader and cancer survivor. "When many of us were diagnosed, we thought our lives were over. Now we know that we can live full and active lives, even after breast cancer. We paddle for fun; it's great exercise and it's a way to share the knowledge that there is quality of life after breast cancer. We're determined to survive."

"We are a very diverse group who has a wonderful time together paddling with spirit for a good cause," said Ray. "The water and the boats are beautiful; the women are beautiful! Our collective force moves us through the water with a sense of joy and victory."

"Bringing together all these women is an inspiration," Booth said. "When we come together, we know we're not alone; we share a common bond. But we also work together toward a common goal of hitting our rhythm and being a team."

Ray talks about her bout with breast cancer and involvement in Dragon Boat Atlanta Sunday at 8:05 on Northeast Georgia This Week on WDUN NEWS TALK 550.

TurningPoint Women's Healthcare sponsors Dragon Boat Atlanta, a team of breast cancer survivors paddling for exercise, wellness and fellowship. The survivor team is supported by an enthusiastic team of supporters, many of whom have family and friends who are breast cancer survivors.

The dragon boat is a fiberglass or teak boat measuring 39 to 48 feet long by 4 feet wide by 18 inches deep. Teams of 20 paddlers sit two abreast with a steer person in the back and a drummer in the front. The race boats are designed as replicas of colorful Chinese dragon boats used more than 2000 years ago. Dragon Boat Racing is the fastest growing water sport activity in the world.

In addition to Ray and Booth, team members are Carolyn Andrews, Stone Mountain; Sharon Beckman, Sugar Hill; Ione Berg, Lawrenceville; Jill Binkley, Alpharetta; Cherrie Brice, Kennesaw; Donna Buford, Atlanta; Debbie Byrd, Lilburn; Nancy Crawford, Buford; Kathy Cunningham, Cumming; Linda Evans, Smyrna; Becky Humphrey, Duluth; Barbara Johnson, Lithonia; Sue Mattison, Dahlonega; Susan McCormick, Sandy Springs; Rita Menshon, Kennesaw; Christina Parks, College Park; Joan Traylor, Canton; and Linda Witzigreuger, Cumming.