HOW DRAGONS ABREAST BEGAN

As we are surrounded by all the pink hype that surrounds October and breast cancer awareness, it is amazing to think that 10 years ago there was no dragon boat paddling for breast cancer in Australia. Today we have 43 groups around the country and it all began here in Darwin.

This photo is the first every group of paddlers. We used the name NT Breast Cancer Voice - in those fledgling days in Darwin each of us was keen to promote breast cancer awareness and the advocacy movement was in its infancy.

The dragon boat was something that we saw as FUN and more appealing to women than the hard slog that is advocacy work.

We've come a long way in 10 years! It is also very gratifying that most of the original members are still in contact with each other and many of us still very active advocates (as well as dragon boat paddlers!)

We celebrated the 10th birthday of NT Breast Cancer Voice on the 29th August - and on the 15th November we'll celebrate the 10th Birthday of breast cancer survivors paddling in a dragon boat - today we are known as Dragons Abreast across the country - but we are still very much in the same position as 10 years ago with no regular income stream. I am proud to say that we have managed to somehow stay afloat on the sniff of an oily rag - and that is thanks to lots of indviduals collectively working together.

Thank you to all our members and valuable supporters!