World Club Crew Championship

Empire Dragons NYC, New York City’s only breast cancer survivor dragonboat team, wins the Eastern Regional Dragon Boat Association (ERDBA), Breast Cancer Survivor Division securing their place at the 12th IDBF World Club Crew Championships in Sarasota, Florida

New York, NY- Empire Dragons NYC, a team composed of women survivors of breast and other cancers have won a coveted spot competing in the next IBDF World Club Crew Championships. They will be one of only a select few teams representing the United States in the Breast Cancer Survivor Division in this international competition. The team was ecstatic after taking first place in Mercer, New Jersey this past weekend winning the ERDBA finals.

“The women have trained hard –both their bodies and minds, their spirits are strong and they have created an extraordinary community of survivors” said Donna Wilson, who co-founded the team just ten years ago. “Each of us joined the team at a different points in our treatment and we started at varying fitness levels. It has not been an easy road. But we share the determination to be athletes and to be our best selves” said Alexandra Herzan, one of the long-standing team members. This commitment has included environmental advocacy and stewardship of Flushing Bay where the team paddles.

Empire Dragons NYC are New York City’s first and only breast cancer survivor Dragon Boat team and is focused on building the most successful survivorship paddling program in the tri-state area. The teams' mission is to promote the sport of Dragon Boating as a unique and healthful survivorship program; to be advocates for clean waterways and the overall environment; and to be supporters of innovative cancer research and programming. The team is one of over 200 breast cancer survivor teams worldwide that serve to promote dragon boating as part of a healthy lifestyle, and provide a unique support for those fighting cancer.

Twenty two of Empire’s almost 50 team members will be selected to paddle in Sarasota at the IDBF World Club Crew Championships. “We’re one heart and one team and everyone will continue to get in shape and support each other in our goals” said Coach Wilson.