MARSHA

I am a very late bloomer as far as becoming an athlete. I grew up during the 60s and 70s when there were no opportunities for female athletes. I don’t regret it as I made my body and spirit strong by herding cattle, bailing hay, scooping corn, meditating in the woods by a brook, and running up and down our half mile lane to our family farm in central Ohio.

 In my twenties I dreamed of being in Olympic swimming competitions. Never had a coach, never had a swim lesson so I taught myself. I would pretend I was racing against others in an Olympic event. I loved the water, how it felt against my skin, and how relaxed I felt after a swim. So, in my 50s I found out about senior Olympic Games. I remember the first time I went to an event there was a huge sign saying welcome athletes. Oh my God, I thought I am an athlete. I’m not saying it wasn’t rewarding competing in local and national games, but one thing was missing – a supportive team. I would get up at the crack of dawn and do my practice swim and wait all day for my turn to race alone with no one to talk to.

 Then one day when I was 64 after a grueling year of a bald head, surgeries, chemo, and radiation I said this will never happen to me again. I have to fix this. I had invasive triple negative breast cancer with no known cure.  So I was weak, depressed, and now I had developed a heart condition. I spent endless hours looking for a clinical trial. I went to a conference for triple negative and that very day became my new normal.  I saw in the corner of my eye some ladies dressed in most magnificent uniforms with an amazing display about dragonboating for breast cancer survivors—Janice with her beautiful smile and encouraging words. I left there with the thoughts of what wonderful kind women. Are they for real? It took some time to realize to forget the clinical trial. Get my mind my spirit my soul in the best shape I can!  So I contacted Hope Afloat and went to my first workout in Narberth in the dead of winter. I said to myself I finally have a team, a coach, and a support system. I have wanted this for most of my life. To say the least dragonboating has changed me in many ways including becoming emotionally and physically strong, but also paddling as one with God on our beautiful river.