A charitable team of Windermere dragon boat racers has travelled to France to take part in an international festival, pitting their skills against paddlers from as far afield as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Paddlers for Life Windermere, a charity dragon boat team of cancer survivors and their supporters, have sent a crew to the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission (IBCPC) dragon boat festival on Lac du Bourget, France’s largest natural glacial lake.

The festival is part of the organisation’s drive to encourage the formation of dragon boat teams for breast cancer survivors, as well as increasing participation in recreational dragon boat paddling for healthier lifestyles. 170 international teams from 25 countries are competing in the event – with around 4,500 paddlers taking part.

The team will paddle their dragon boat in a series of 500m and 200m races against other contenders such as the Dragon Lady crew from Florence, the Aurora boat from Spain and Dragons Abreast from Australia. Each event will consist of two heats or racing rounds, with the fastest crews qualifying for grand finals.

The Paddlers for Life dragon boat team has been preparing for the regatta at their base at the Watersports Centre at Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa.

English Lakes Hotels has been supporting the charitable organisation since its inception in 2007. The idea was to bring patients and supporters together to build back strength and fitness and reduce the side effects of cancer treatment, notably lymphoedema. Dragon boat paddling is highly beneficial to the mental wellbeing of cancer patients and survivors too.

One of the founding members of Paddlers for Life, Sandra Barlow, who is still paddling with the squad at the age of 83, explains:

“International events such as this are an opportunity to raise awareness about breast cancer and the potential to continue to live a full and active life after diagnosis and treatment."

 “Low Wood Bay has played a big part in helping us in all sorts of ways. Without their support, we wouldn’t have been able to establish a base and grow to the point now where we have the capacity and equipment to take part in big events like the dragon boat festival in France. We’re also very fortunate to have a home base where we can paddle in such a spectacular setting on Windermere."

“There’s great camaraderie and friendship and dragon boat paddling is a great way to free the mind and give us all a better sense of wellbeing. When the squad competes in France this week, we’ll give it our best but we’re not overly competitive. It’s the taking part that counts.”

For further information about Paddlers for Life, visit here.