Maritimo^® Australia

Maritimo helps breast cancer women help prostate cancer men

Wednesday, 17 June 2009

A team of 22 ladies from Dragons Abreast Gold Coast, supported by Maritimo, joined 12 other dragon boats in a race on the Gold Coast last weekend to support prostate cancer research.

Supporting their male colleagues in the fight against a cancer, every member of the Dragons Abreast team has been affected by breast cancer.

The boats raced for about 45 minutes from Paradise Point to Sanctuary Cove, raising nearly $5,000.

The team, affectionately known as the Pink Ladies for their bright pink uniforms, have been supported for the past three years by Maritimo. The company’s CEO, Bill Barry-Cotter, provided his own sparkling Maritimo C60 Sports Cabriolet, complete with cheerleaders and balloons, to escort the team along the race course.

Fay Henderson, President of the Gold Coast Dragons Abreast, said the team is focussed on raising awareness of cancers.

“Our focus is usually on helping women with breast cancer, and we want to help raise awareness of the issues with prostate cancer,” she said.

“The support of Maritimo has helped our cause enormously,” she said. “Not only can we compete successfully and help raise funds for causes such as this, we are able to travel overseas to compete and spread the word about breast cancer screening. And our club has won two dragon boat world championships in the past three years.”
 
Race Organiser Roger Large, a volunteer with the Cancer Council, said he was delighted with the response from teams and from the various sponsors.

Dragons Abreast now has 35 clubs around Australia. Fay Henderson said the Gold Coast Club was founded in 2002 and now has 75 members including 40 paddlers.

“We are always looking to help more women affected by breast cancer,” she said. “We have a saying in the club – when the water gets rough, don’t stop paddling!”

If you would like to know more about Dragons Abreast Gold Coast, telephone Fay Henderson on (07) 5578 4810.