Date:
Friday, April 9, 2010

Place:
Thomastown Party Center
1280 Triplett Blvd.
Akron, Ohio  44312

The Breast of Friends Gala is a fundraiser benefitting The Dragon Dream Team, Ohio’s first group of breast cancer survivors participating in the team sport of dragon boating. Started in 2007 by a local surgeon and a breast cancer survivor,   THE DDT proves that life after breast cancer can be full, active and beyond all expectations.

Winning the Battle with the Paddle

The Dragon Dream Team is one of more than 100 Breast Cancer Survivor dragon boat teams around the world.  As part of its mission to create breast cancer awareness,  in June, 2010 The Northeast Ohio Team will represent all of Ohio in the World Dragon Boat BCS Championships  in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.

Breast of Friends Needs Your Help

There are many ways you can help…donate an item for our auction, become an event sponsor, underwrite food, entertainment, printing and other Gala expenses and, of course, plan to join us on Friday, April 9, for the fun event.

The Dragon Dream Team of Ohio
Raising Awareness.  Moving Forward.
www.dragondreamteam.org
A 501(c)(3) Organization

For more information:  330-794-9133

AUGUST, 2009 - Dragon Dream Team on TV! Scrimmage in Marietta, Ohio - Dragon Dream Team vs the MOV’n Dragons. In this August 1, 2009 practice race for the Cleveland, Ohio races on August 29, 2009, The Dragon Dream Team won a scrimmage versus the MOV’n Dragons on the Muskingum River. Watch the video about this event on WTAP - an NBC affiliate.

JULY, 2009  - Windsor, Ontario. Joining hundreds of breast cancer survivors from across North America, The Dragon Dream Team made a return visit to the French Dressing International Dragon Boats for the Cure Festival, July 10-11. Races were won and lost by just hundredths of seconds. The Dragon Dream Team enjoyed a weekend of competition, camaraderie and some good partying as friends and family joined in on the fun during this international adventure.

JULY, 2009 - New Team Shirts. Thanks to a generous donation from Suarez Corporation Industries, (employer of our Team Coach, Karen Kilroy), The Dragon Dream Team sported their new team uniform shirts at the Windsor festival. Thank you, Suarez!

JULY, 2009 - Camp Quality. The Dragon Dream Team held a dragon boat education session for the participants in the 2009 Camp Quality at Craftsmen Park. Camp Quality is a week long camping experience and year round support system for children with cancer and their families.

JUNE, 2009 - Cincinnati Paddlefest. The Dragon Dream Team brought home a first place win and a huge trophy for its grand finale showing of the Annual Cincinnati Paddlefest. Over 1500 paddle boats of all kinds participated in the June 26-27 event but this was the first year for Dragon Boat Racing. The Dragon Dream Team defeated the Kentucky Thoroughbreasts who were their gracious hosts for the fun and triumphant weekend. See Kentucky Post article.

JUNE, 2009 - New Dock Opening. Rex, our 40-foot pink dragon boat now has his own private dock, thanks to Michael Purdy, fiancé of team member Marilyn Bixenstine. Mr. Purdy redesigned and transported a portable dock from his home in Westfield Township to Craftsmen Park. The Dream Team celebrated the grand opening of the new dock at a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 24. The dock opening was featured in several newspapers, including the Akron Beacon Journal (see pictures).

MAY, 2009 - Spring Training Camp. The Dragon Dream Team, in coordination with Great White North, kicked off the new season by hosting the second annual dragon boat training camp, May 15-17. Coaches from Canada worked with members of the team as well as dragon boat enthusiasts from Cleveland, Indiana, and Canada.

The Camp is designed to immerse paddlers of all ages and abilities into the sport of Dragon Boating, one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. The Camp will be held at Craftsmen Park on Portage Lakes, during the weekend of May 15-17, 2009. It can also be a great team-building experience for corporate and school groups.

Dragon Boating is similar to sculling or crewing. The 40-foot long canoe-like boat has a colorful dragon head and tail and is propelled by 20 paddlers sitting two abreast, a drummer to sound the beat and a steersperson.

The all-inclusive weekend training camp includes paddling equipment, lodging accommodations and all meals at Craftsmen Park. The Dragon Boat Camp also includes a social/orientation, multiple water and land training sessions, team building activities, gala dinner banquet/celebration, closing ceremonies and regatta. Lodging is optional for local area participants.

The Dragon Dream Team, Ohio’s first official Dragon Boat Team, is hosting this event for the second year. For registration or more information about the 2009 Akron Dragon Boat Camp, check out the website at www.gwndragonboat.com or alcame.ca/ohiocamp09main.htm.

Akron’s new Confucius Institute is part of an international network of Confucius Institutes, supported by the Chinese Ministry of Education, dedicated to “enhancing the understanding of the Chinese language and culture” around the world. The Confucius Institute will promote the expansion of Chinese language instruction through a range of educational and outreach activities to students, teachers, businesses and community members.

The goal of the Summit is to share our experience with dragon boating with other breast cancer survivors. We also welcome new members to join Ohio’s first breast cancer survivor dragon boat team.

We will have several speakers at the summit, followed by a dragon boat demonstration and rides.  The speakers will include Jessica Mader, R.N., our founding president; Douglas Wagner, M.D. from Akron Plastic Surgeons, our founding sponsor; Michael Dunphy, M.D., from Akron Plastic Surgeons; and Elizabeth Heinicke from the American Cancer Society. Karen Kilroy, Dragon Dream Team coach, will present her DVD about the Dragon Dream Team’s first season, and several Dragon Dream Team members will discuss their experiences on the team.

The program will last approximately 2 hours.

Dragon Boat racing is a 2,000 year old sport that originated in China.  Similar to sculling, it is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world.  The 40 foot longcanoe-like boat has a colorful dragon head and tail and is propelled by 20 paddlers sitting two abreast, a drummer to sound the beat and a steersperson.

Click here to See the article on the Cleveland Women Web site