Florence Dragon Boat Festival

Breast cancer is something that has several effects on families, including my own. While walking around Florence, I saw posters advertising a breast cancer event that sparked my interest (pictured left). After a little research on the poster website, I found out that the city of Florence, along with the International Breast Cancer Paddler’s Commission, is working with breast cancer survivors to host an international dragon boat race in 2018. Survivors work together to paddle a dragon boat as part of their physical therapy to help ensure physical and social health. This form of therapy was introduced by Don McKenzie, a physical therapist from Canada. Since then, the phenomenon has spread internationally across many different cultures. For the first time since the start of the international Dragon Races, it is being hosted in Florence in (Dragon Boat Festival Florence, 2017). The mantra of the International Breast Cancer Paddler’s Commission is to have “an international umbrella organization whose mandate is to encourage the establishment of breast cancer dragon boat teams, within the framework of participation and inclusiveness.” They promote dragon boat paddling as a contributor to a healthy lifestyle for those with breast cancer (IBCPC, 2017).

The Florence race will also include four days of activities. Workshops, demonstrations, and social events will teach awareness and how to talk about breast cancer in a large international setting focused on breast cancer survivors (Dragon Boat Festival Florence, 2017). Along with the Dragon Boat Festival, there will also be a group called Corri La Vita, one of the main Dragon Race committees, that hosts an annual event of their own bringing awareness and financial contribution through treatment and ongoing research on breast cancer in Florence. Corri La Vita also partners with the Italian Cancer Association and proceeds are given to local cancer research establishments and other breast cancer organizations (Corrilavita, 2015). The organization strives to give cancer patients the best services available and the most up-to-date information.

In Florence, there are also two large institutions that work in the field of breast cancer: The Institute for Study and Cancer Prevention (ISPO) and the Breast Unit of Careggi University Hospital. The Breast Cancer Unit is considered the number one place for patients to go in the Tuscan region (Breast Centres Network, 2014).

This post was written by Kayleigh Mann, a senior studying History and Anthropology. After graduating, she plans to pursue a doctoral program in applied anthropology. 

Corri la vita. (2014, September 01). Retrieved July 21, 2017, from http://www.corrilavita.it/en/

IBCPC Dragon Boat Festival 2018. (2017, July 07). Retrieved July 21, 2017, from http://www.florencebcs2018.org/

International Breast Cancer Paddlers' Commission – IBCPC, The international organisation to support teams who promote dragon boat paddling for people treated for a diagnosis of breast cancer. (n.d.). Retrieved July 21, 2017, from http://ibcpc.com/