July 14, 2009
The Bora, an infrequent cold violent wind out of the north east Adriatic greeted the 1650 paddlers in Venice for the Vogalonga on Sunday May 31, 2009. The wind wreaked havoc on the water and then with the1500 non-motorized vessels gathered in front of Piazza San Marco for the start of this famous 32 kilometer regatta.
Among the great variety of vessels were four dragon boats powered by women living with breast cancer from Canada (Vancouver and Toronto), the United States, England, France and Italy (Florence, Sardinia, Sicily, Rome and Venice). The Canadian crew, Forza Rosa was captained by Jenny Yule and co-ordinated by Carol Dale and Jane Frost. At the invitation of the Italian women Carol and Jane had travelled to Venice in 2008 to investigate the possibility of participating in the 2009 Vogalonga with a Canadian crew. The goal was to work with their Italian friends to spread the message that a full and active life is possible after treatment for this dreaded disease.
Forza Rosa came together in the fall of 2008 and preparations began for an adventure of a life time. By the time the paddlers left for Venice a website had been created, (www.forzarosa.com); several outfits co-ordinated, making Forza Rosa the best dressed crew on the water; a song written and practised; publicity materials produced and arrangements made to meet with medical personnel in Venice, Parma, Florence and Rome.
Forza Rosa’s first formal meeting was at the Town Hall with the Mayor of Venice, Massimo Cacciari. There the women greeted old friends and made new ones including Daniele Scarpa and his wife Sandra Truccolo, Olympic and Paralympic, respectively, Italian rowing champions. Opening Ceremonies were held in a 11th Century Convent converted to a beautiful meeting facility. Many speeches: the Italian Olympic representative, the Italian International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) representative, government officials including the equivalent of Canada's Deputy Minister of Health and representatives of all the crews.
Tina Scorda, Jenny Yule and Jane Frost spoke about the two people who were responsible for the breast cancer dragon boat movement in Italy. First, Dr Don McKenzie (University of British Columbia) whose research into exercise and breast cancer is changing the traditional medical thinking about lymphedema and proving that exercise even during cancer treatment is beneficial. And second, Orlanda Cappelli, a determined and feisty woman who launched the Rome Pink Butterflies after meeting Internationally Abreast (a Vancouver and Australian crew) at an IDBF event in Rome, 2002. She went on to encourage other Italian women to paddle and has made Italy the leader in the breast cancer dragon boat movement.
After the speeches representatives from each crew climbed into Daniele Scarpa’s very pink dragon boat and, escorted by an outrigger, paddled up to the Rialto Bridge where friends and family tossed flower pedals onto the boats, an Italian version of the Flower Ceremony. Such an emotional moment as we remembered those we have lost to this disease including dear Orlanda.
Paddling the Vogalonga was a challenge for everyone. Many boats capsized including one of the breast cancer crews. Forza Rosa stayed afloat, managing to avoid the worst of the winds by changing course. The three hour struggle with the elements culminated in a joyous voyage down the Grand Canal with the Canadian flag flying proudly. As the Forza Rosa crew hit the staging area the crowds went wild. Not a dry eye on the shore; a memory never to be forgotten.
As for the goal of spreading the message about the importance of exercise and breast cancer, in the cities of Parma, Florence and Rome local breast cancer paddlers organized meetings with doctors, nurses, radiologists, surgeons, rehabilitation physicians and patients for those Forza Rosa members travelling beyond Venice.
Forza Rosa is very pleased to report that our efforts both on and off the water have made a difference in Italy. It was all we hoped it would be and much much more.
