Janice

I grew up in Southwest Philadelphia. I never thought about exercise as a category separate from just living. I rode my bike, played street games (hoping I wouldn't be picked last when teams formed) and went to dances when I came of age. The only formal exercise was gym class which I barely tolerated. The ugly gym uniforms were not my style!

Then I went to college and had to fulfill a gym requirement so I chose Modern Dance which I loved and the teacher asked me to join her performance group which I did. I even got to dance in a street scene in the opera Die Fledermaus. After graduation I continued with the dance group until I felt I aged out. I took other adult dance classes in jazz and tap and practiced in my kitchen while my kids (which I had by then) laughed.

Then I reached the age of 40 and I was captured by the fitness bug (fear of losing my figure). I ran, took step and many other classes and worked out on machines at the gym. And then I discovered in the gym basement the WEIGHT ROOM. Mostly all guys and me. Sometimes I would lift with my teenage sons. I had no formal training and frequently got conflicting advice from the guys in the gym but I really liked lifting weights.

In my 50's my husband Rich and I went to a country bar to try a Country Line Dance lesson and we thought it was hokey and fun. That turned into Two Step lessons and many other types of couples’ country dances. We eventually joined a performance dance team called the Silver Rose Dance Team which became our obsession for 10 years. After the team broke up we changed to Salsa and other Latin dancing which we did two or three times a week. Working, playing and traveling with the love of my life, I knew life was as good as it gets.

That's where my life was on Thanksgiving 2010 when I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Most of my life I was afraid of getting Breast Cancer. When I was a teenager my Aunt died from it. My sister who was also my closest friend died from Breast Cancer at age 50. I've been more fortunate. The tumor was small and I was able to have a lumpectomy and radiation followed by hormone reducing pills. I also developed cellulitis (tennis ball sized lump in my armpit) from the sentinel node surgery. I also had cording going down my arm which was eventually resolved with physical therapy. Cancer had taken control of my life and I was more than ready to find a way to regain that feeling of well-being that moving my body had given me.

I had just finished radiation when I read a physical fitness article in the Philadelphia Inquirer about Hope Afloat. Sometime in the past a client at work had told me with much enthusiasm about this wonderful sport of dragon boating. When I read about Hope Afloat Dragon Boat Team I wondered if this was something I could do sometime in the future (I still had this huge, painful lump under my arm). I called the phone number listed and Phoebe called me back and invited me to paddle pool practice. I said I just wanted to watch. She said sure but maybe you'll try it which of course I did. It was difficult and I hurt something awful but I love being on the water and I am a determined person so I persevered. The thing that encouraged me to stay with it more than anything was that first night I met Vilma who was so friendly and invited me to carpool with her group and basically took me under her wing. I had never been drawn to joining an organization before but the warmth and welcoming of the members was so appealing that, of course, I joined. In time Peg who was our president, gently bent my arm to join the board as membership chairman. It was the most rewarding job I could possibly have held. I found the more I was willing to give the more I got back.

Another positive offered by Hope Afloat has been the opportunity to work out year- round with our coach to keep up our fitness. I once more found the joy of weight-lifting and also interval training but this time I had expert coaching.

May 18, 2019 my husband, my love, my life died. During Rich's illness and after his death I was enveloped in a cocoon of caring as only Hope Afloat can provide. I joined the team looking for a sport to help me get my mojo back. I got that and also a community of loving sisters.