Why We Paddle

It starts with a paddle. It becomes something bigger.

People come to Dragonheart Vermont for all kinds of reasons. Some are breast cancer survivors looking for a team that understands. Some want a workout that doesn't feel like one. Some heard about the club from a friend and figured they'd try something new.

They all stay for the same thing: the people.

Support Us So We Can Keep Going

Every dollar helps ensure that:

Cancer survivors know we're in their corner, every day
The club keeps thriving as a powerful organization for people affected by cancer
Members of our community with a cancer diagnosis get the support they need from a variety of organizations.

Donate to Support Our Mission

Learn About Membership

For the Survivorship

About a quarter of our members are breast cancer survivors. For them, dragon boating isn't just exercise. It's a place where no one treats you like you're fragile, where your body gets to feel strong again and where you don't have to explain what you've been through because the person next to you already knows.

"For us it's about the bond: having a place where you can go and people you can be around and they get it. You don't have to say anything. You could just say, 'I need a hug today.' Some people drum, some people run — for us, it's paddle." — Deb, Former Dragonheart Vermont member

For the Community

This isn't a gym where people nod at each other and leave. Teams share drinks after practice. They travel together to races. They show up with Meal Trains when someone is going through a hard time. Holiday parties, road trips, family dinners with teammates — the relationships built in the boat carry over into everything else.

"I've gotten invited over for family dinners and spent holidays with members of the team. That level of social connection really made my experience here in Vermont what it has been. And it's been incredible." — Zach, Dragonheart Vermont member

For the Challenge

Dragon boating is a full-body workout built on rhythm, timing, and trust. Twenty paddlers stroking in unison, pushing each other to be faster and stronger every practice. Some members come for fitness and stay for the competition. Others discover a competitive side they didn't know they had.

"They know you're a survivor, but you're a person outside that boundary of being a survivor... it's just an unspoken pillar of strength." — Nikki, Dragonheart Vermont member

"We don't coddle and look at ourselves as victims. We really look at ourselves as survivors, and it doesn't define us in a crippling way. It defines us in a humbling way." — Nina, Dragonheart Vermont member

For Every Season of Life

Our youngest members are 14. Our oldest are in their 90s. Some have been paddling since the club's first season in 2004. Others joined last summer. Competitive racers and recreational paddlers share the same boat, the same lake and the same summer evenings.

"I am 81 years old. It has been 31 years since I was diagnosed and successfully treated for breast cancer. It's joyful for me to pay it forward." — Carol, Dragonheart Vermont member