Kamloops’ very own Spirit Warriors Dragon Boat Team is celebrating its 18th season on the water this year, and they’re doing it with strength and style.
“This is our 18th season. Holy crap. Wow. So 2008,” laughed Cheryl Dedels, a proud paddler and long-time member of the team. The Spirit Warriors were founded by five women inspired by an international Dragon Boat festival in Peterborough, Ontario.
One of the original five is still paddling today, added Cheryl.
As a team made up entirely of breast cancer survivors, the Spirit Warriors come together to represent hope, resilience, and friendship. “Everyone on our team is a breast cancer survivor,” Dedels explained. The group’s ages range from late 30s to 80.
The team isn’t just about paddling. A big part of what they do together is all about the community they create together.
They organize events, fundraising, and offer support to those both newly diagnosed and those who have been through the battle. “At the time of my diagnosis, there was no support group in Kamloops for breast cancer survivors,” Dedels said. “Now, we’ve got one.”
And the difference that support has made, said Dedels, is life-changing.
“We really find it important to make our team accessible to anyone that has breast cancer. If someone honestly can’t afford it, then we cover it for them.”
To help keep things afloat, literally, the Warriors are hosting their third gala on Oct. 26 at Colombo Hall. Tickets include dinner, dancing, DJ music, live and silent auctions, and a popular “Cork Pull” where a $20 ticket could land you a bottle of wine worth up to $80. “Those tickets just go like crazy,” Dedels said. Proceeds support everything from festival travel to equipment like paddles, life jackets, and race shirts.
The team recently purchased a new boat, thanks to help from the Kamloops Blazers Sports Legacy Fund, and is currently fundraising for a custom trailer and protective cover. “Right now, we just have it wrapped in a tarp,” Dedels laughed. The gala will help to cover those costs. Tickets to the gala have historically sold out quickly, so make sure to check those out while you still can.
As for the team itself, the racing season includes up to four festivals a year, including Kamloops’ own Dragon Boat Festival on Aug. 9 at Riverside Park. The event will take place alongside RibFest, making it a big weekend for locals. “It’s always a big one for us,” explained Dedels. “There’s a Survivorship Party on the Friday, and a Carnation Ceremony to honor those we’ve lost and those still fighting.”
The Spirit Warriors are on the water from May to mid-September, but the community holds events and gatherings all year round. “We always have a fall party, a Christmas party, and lots of social events. We’ve done bowling tournaments. We try to stay connected.” Between activities, support groups, events, and the friendships formed, the Spirit Warriors make massive impacts on the people who take part.
Dedels joined the team after her diagnosis in 2015. “It was quite aggressive. I was stage three. During treatment, you’re followed closely. And then suddenly — nothing. No support. The Spirit Warriors gave me that.”
Interested in joining the team? Anyone who has received a breast cancer diagnosis is welcome, men included. “All you need is a diagnosis,” Dedels said. “You don’t need to be athletic. We focus on fun, fitness, and friendship.”
If you want to support the team, you can donate items for the silent auction or funds to the gala, become sponsors, or even just buy your tickets to the event, bid on items, and enjoy your evening. To get involved, visit kamloopsspiritwarriors.ca/, or find them on Facebook or on Instagram.
And when you see the dragon boats on the river, think about all the hope they represent. As Dedels says, “There’s life after breast cancer. We’re proof.”