Seattle Cancer Survivors Qualify for Dragon Boat Worlds

Twenty women who share an experience no one wants are about to represent their city on the world stage, paddles in hand and hope in their hearts.

Survivor Sake, a Seattle-area dragon boat team composed entirely of cancer survivors, has qualified for the Club Crew World Championships in Taipei, Taiwan, this summer. The crew earned their spot after competing at nationals in Florida last year, transforming from beginners to world-class athletes.

"There's something very powerful when you're surrounded by people that have gone through the same things," says co-captain Luciana Bosio. "You don't need to speak about it. You know what others feel about it."

Dragon boating is a 2,500-year-old Chinese paddling sport where 20 paddlers sit in pairs, racing in 200 or 500-meter sprints. A drummer at the front keeps time while a steerer guides from the back, and success depends entirely on the team moving as one.

The crew is part of Team Survivor Northwest, a nonprofit offering outdoor activities and fitness programs to women diagnosed with cancer. Members are considered survivors from the moment treatment begins, creating an instant bond that transcends words.

Why This Inspires

Coach Roula Bland has watched something remarkable unfold. "Some who have never been sporty in their life, and all of a sudden, they're on the international stage," she says. The grit and camaraderie these women display stands out even in a diverse club that includes paddlers from their 20s to their 90s.

Bosio herself once hated the survivor label, warning colleagues at her radio job never to use it around her. But the team changed everything. "It's what brought us together," she now says.

The sport's team-first nature creates a level playing field where individual glory takes a backseat. "The whole team has to go together, or you're gonna lose," Bosio explains.

Getting everyone to Taiwan requires creativity. The team has been selling hand-dyed silk scarves created by club members, with one Survivor Sake paddler teaching her craft to raise funds. Their mission is simple: every woman who wants to compete should get that chance.

The team's age range tells its own story of resilience. One member paddled until just before her 90th birthday, proving that dragon boating welcomes all fitness levels and abilities.

These women didn't choose the experience that brought them together, but they chose what came after: strength, sport, and showing the world what survivors can do.