What an awesome day! Wonderful hosts, the Wave Walkers! And a fantastic lunch spread to boot!
What started out, over a year ago, with a conversation to help get a breast cancer survivor dragon boat team in London, England finally came to fruition today!
The Wave Walkers are a team made up of cancer survivors (any type, not just breast) supporters and family members who have been together for just over a year. They are funded by the MacMillan Cancer Support group of the UK which is a support group much like our Wellspring back home.
They, like Rowbust, are a special group in their community. Right now they are small but have grown over the past year from a group of 4 or 5 paddlers to a full boat (20) of paddlers! And after today's event they will most definitely gain more members.
Emails between Rowbust and Wave Walkers have been going back and forth for severals months and the excitement and anticipation for this day from both teams was evident upon our arrival at the paddling site.
We arrived on site around 10:00 am to a warm welcome from Deryn, Ciara and Eddy of the Wave Walkers. First order of business was to get the boats in the water. As we always say "many hands make light work" so all of us pitched in the flip the boats from their stands and dollie them out to the dock....(Bob Kuska...we've got a little project for you, we'd like some dollies for our boats now!) It was a breeze getting the boats down to the waters edge! Once the boats were in the water Rowbust got a chance to go for a paddle before the rest of the Wave Walkers and other guests arrived for our days events. This was a chance for us to get rid of the "cobwebs" after a long day of traveling yesterday. It felt great to get out on the water and stretch it out.
After a quick warm up paddle we headed back to shore to meet the rest of the team and the guests that were invited. After introductions and talks about both teams ...how both started, strategies for growth and future plans it was time to get down to the business of paddling.
Joining us in the boats were "newbie" paddlers from the MacMillan Cancer Support group and even more that responded to a flyer sent around the community to come and try it out! (excellent growth strategy...get 'em out and get 'em hooked!)
Everyone was split up in to four groups and the seasoned paddlers went over paddling technique and safety instructions with the newbies before heading out on the water. It is always amazing to watch a new paddler learn how to do the stroke and how it all comes together! You can almost see that "ah ha!" moment when they get it....and that's when you know they're hooked!
One thing that Rowbust loves to do is to "pay it forward". And that is exactly what we did today by sharing our experiences and skills with the Wave Walkers and their guests. It gives us a great sense of joy and purpose to help others.
We were also treated today by a special visit with Coach Sarah's family! Her parents, Mike and Jean, and her brother, Simon, sister-in-law Sarah Jane and nephews William and Alex. Sarah Jane, a survivor herself, was presented with her own Rowbust jersey. She is now an honourary member!
There was time for more paddling so we loaded the boats again with Sarah Jane (jersey on of course) Simon, William and Alex for a paddle around the harbour ending in a mini race.
It really was a wonderful day on and off the water. Lifelong friendships and more connections made. Another goal achieved for Rowbust....CHECK!
Before leaving the paddling site we presented the Wave Walkers and their guests with gifts from the "other" London and proposed a challenge...come and visit us on our lake in London, Ontario, Canada! It can, and will happen if Rowbust has anything to do with it!
The hospitality we experienced today was second to none! Our hearts were stolen by little Miss Isla who made our tea and made sure we tried everything on the buffet table. She was attentive to our needs and a hit with Rowbust. Thank you Isla!
Our day was rounded out with a fantastic meal back at The Rag with our new friends where lots of laughs and stories were shared.
It could not have been a better day! The memories made today will be treasured for many years to come and we can't wait to make more "across the pond"!
What started out, over a year ago, with a conversation to help get a breast cancer survivor dragon boat team in London, England finally came to fruition today!
The Wave Walkers are a team made up of cancer survivors (any type, not just breast) supporters and family members who have been together for just over a year. They are funded by the MacMillan Cancer Support group of the UK which is a support group much like our Wellspring back home.
They, like Rowbust, are a special group in their community. Right now they are small but have grown over the past year from a group of 4 or 5 paddlers to a full boat (20) of paddlers! And after today's event they will most definitely gain more members.
Emails between Rowbust and Wave Walkers have been going back and forth for severals months and the excitement and anticipation for this day from both teams was evident upon our arrival at the paddling site.
We arrived on site around 10:00 am to a warm welcome from Deryn, Ciara and Eddy of the Wave Walkers. First order of business was to get the boats in the water. As we always say "many hands make light work" so all of us pitched in the flip the boats from their stands and dollie them out to the dock....(Bob Kuska...we've got a little project for you, we'd like some dollies for our boats now!) It was a breeze getting the boats down to the waters edge! Once the boats were in the water Rowbust got a chance to go for a paddle before the rest of the Wave Walkers and other guests arrived for our days events. This was a chance for us to get rid of the "cobwebs" after a long day of traveling yesterday. It felt great to get out on the water and stretch it out.
After a quick warm up paddle we headed back to shore to meet the rest of the team and the guests that were invited. After introductions and talks about both teams ...how both started, strategies for growth and future plans it was time to get down to the business of paddling.
Joining us in the boats were "newbie" paddlers from the MacMillan Cancer Support group and even more that responded to a flyer sent around the community to come and try it out! (excellent growth strategy...get 'em out and get 'em hooked!)
Everyone was split up in to four groups and the seasoned paddlers went over paddling technique and safety instructions with the newbies before heading out on the water. It is always amazing to watch a new paddler learn how to do the stroke and how it all comes together! You can almost see that "ah ha!" moment when they get it....and that's when you know they're hooked!
One thing that Rowbust loves to do is to "pay it forward". And that is exactly what we did today by sharing our experiences and skills with the Wave Walkers and their guests. It gives us a great sense of joy and purpose to help others.
We were also treated today by a special visit with Coach Sarah's family! Her parents, Mike and Jean, and her brother, Simon, sister-in-law Sarah Jane and nephews William and Alex. Sarah Jane, a survivor herself, was presented with her own Rowbust jersey. She is now an honourary member!
There was time for more paddling so we loaded the boats again with Sarah Jane (jersey on of course) Simon, William and Alex for a paddle around the harbour ending in a mini race.
It really was a wonderful day on and off the water. Lifelong friendships and more connections made. Another goal achieved for Rowbust....CHECK!
Before leaving the paddling site we presented the Wave Walkers and their guests with gifts from the "other" London and proposed a challenge...come and visit us on our lake in London, Ontario, Canada! It can, and will happen if Rowbust has anything to do with it!
The hospitality we experienced today was second to none! Our hearts were stolen by little Miss Isla who made our tea and made sure we tried everything on the buffet table. She was attentive to our needs and a hit with Rowbust. Thank you Isla!
Our day was rounded out with a fantastic meal back at The Rag with our new friends where lots of laughs and stories were shared.
It could not have been a better day! The memories made today will be treasured for many years to come and we can't wait to make more "across the pond"!