This week, thousands of women who are breast cancer survivors will meet up in the French Alps to race dragon boats.
The International Breast Cancer Paddler’s Commission Participatory Dragon Boat Festival draws 4,500 paddlers from 37 countries.
Hope in the Boat launches during a training session. Photo: Haillry Exter
Dragon boats are huge canoes, with 10 to 20 paddlers. Racing them has become a rehabilitation therapy movement for breast cancer survivors around the world.
One team, Hope in the Boat, is based in the Albany area and has some North Country paddlers, including Hillary “Scout” Exter, who lives in Chestertown. She spoke with David Sommerstein just before leaving for France. Their conversation has been lightly edited for clarity.
David SommersteinAdk breast cancer survivors head to France for “transformative” dragon boat races
HILLARY “SCOUT” EXTER: This is actually my second bout with breast cancer. I was originally diagnosed 14 years ago. I was looking for something that would be fun to do. The expression goes, “worst team, best members.” And that’s kind of how I feel about dragon boating. I really love being on the water, and this is an opportunity to be part of a support group without just being a talking support group.
The Hope in the Boat team based in Albany is heading to France for an international dragon boat competition for breast cancer survivors. Photo: Hillary Exter
All of the members of the team are survivors. So you’re with people who really understand what it’s like to go through treatment, to be really scared, to be weak as a result of the surgery, to deal with chemo or radiation and medication after, and then to build yourself up and be strong. To have the camaraderie and sisterhood is just really an extraordinary experience.
DAVID SOMMERSTEIN: You’re supporting each other through all those experiences and through those tough times and health battles, but at the same time you’re doing something together, and doing something that’s beautiful.
EXTER: Absolutely. And it’s really a kick-ass team of women. Our expression is, ‘we do hard things.’ It’s just a really transformative experience for everybody. Being on the water, you forget about everything. We paddle on the Mohawk River, and you see a tremendous amount of wildlife: osprey, eagles, egrets. It’s a fantastic experience.
SOMMERSTEIN: What are you most excited about with this trip to France for this international dragon boat competition?
EXTER: Being part of a group of 4,500 paddlers from 170 teams, it’s going to be totally fabulous. I hope to be part of a flash mob. And there’s going to be a parade of nations through the town, and I’m looking forward to racing. We have two days of races, 500 m one day and 200 m another day. So, looking forward to paddling hard, and no matter how we do, enjoying being there.
The Hope in the Boat dragon boat team is based in the Albany area. Photo provided