Congresswoman Takes on Challenge to Ride the Dragon

 

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz will join breast cancer survivor dragon boat racing team, Save Our Sisters, for a first-hand experience on the water, Saturday, May 21, at the team's annual Professional Day event. Held at the Miami Rowing Club on Key Biscayne (next to the old Marine Stadium), the team will also host doctors, therapists and other medical professionals who care for breast cancer patients and survivors, to help them better understand the benefits of dragon boating.

 

The event will start at 10 a.m. with a warm-up exercise session. Afterwards, the congresswoman and medical professionals will be invited to try out the sport and paddle with members of the team. Lunch will follow.

 

In 2008, Wasserman Schultz fought her own battle with breast cancer. That experience led her to champion the Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) Act to help educate young women and medical professionals on the risk factors and warning signs of breast cancer, and tools such as genetic testing which are available to help women make informed decisions about their health.

 

Canadian sports medicine expert, Dr. Donald McKenzie, formed the first survivor dragon boat crew in 1996 as a trial, believing that physical activity involving teamwork and paddling could benefit women after breast cancer surgery. His experiment proved right and has inspired nearly 200 breast cancer survivor teams around the world. Save Our Sisters is the only survivor team in South Florida.

 

For more information on Professional Day or Save Our Sisters, contact Kim Bonomo at 305-776-5016 or Martha Martin at 305-519-4777.

 

NOTE: A chase boat will be available for press to get video/photos of the congresswoman and medical professionals paddling with the team.

 

Released date: May 16, 2011