Welcome to the new Pool of Life website!
The ‘Pool of life’ is the first dragon boat racing team for breast cancer survivors in the UK. The team was set up in the North West, to help raise breast cancer awareness and demonstrate that women living with breast cancer can lead full active lives.
There is a lot of clear medical evidence of the benefits gained by those who join this program. The aim of the program in 2006 was to raise the team’s profile so encouraging the establishment of more teams nationally, enabling us to have our own dragon boat, which led to the team competing in the first dragon boat World Championships for breast cancer survivors representing the UK in Singapore in September 2006. The team of 16 ladies won 1 silver and 3 bronze medals in a 2 day event competing against 17 teams from 11 different countries.
The objects of the charity are to preserve and protect the good health of breast cancer survivors within the North West of England by the provision of facilities for exercise, particularly dragon boat racing. This is intended to reduce the risk of lymphoedema for those otherwise at risk.
Dragon boat racing is colourful hard-work and a wonderful way to say "YES I CAN" after breast cancer. All over the world women who are survivors in every sense of the word are demonstrating their ‘can do’ attitude as they take part in dragon boat racing.
In 1995 Dr Don McKenzie, a sports medicine physician at the University of British Columbia, started researching the issue of rehabilitation following diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
Current opinion had prevailed that the avoidance of strenuous exercise was necessary to prevent lymphoedema or swelling of the arm where lymph nodes had been removed. Dr McKenzie believed that upper body exercise has a role in recovery from breast cancer and lymphodema because it can improve the range of motion and reverse muscle atrophy, activate skeletal muscle (which may help pump lymph), and stimulate the immune system.
The findings were compelling the paddlers showed a marked improvement in both physical and mental health. Several women reported improved range of motion of their shoulders and there were no cases of lymphodema. To other people with breast cancer, the women paddlers have become role models, giving inspiration to lead full and active lives.
Latest News
Amathus Pool of Life Racing Report – Liverpool
6 April – a bitterly cold morning in Liverpool for the start of the racing season! We woke up to find 6 ins of snow on the car... [more info]
A Brief History of Dragon Boat Racing
The custom of dragon boating dates back more than 2,000 years. Its origin was a commemoration of the patriot poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself in the Mei Lo River after being exiled from his state. It is said the villagers, who loved Qu Yuan, feared the fish and water dragons would devour his body so they paddled around the river splashing their paddles and beating their drums to scare away the beasts. And to ensure that Qu Yuan never went hungry, or maybe to divert the fish from eating his body they wrapped rice in leaves and threw them into the river.
We train at the Water Sports Centre, Queens Dock, Liverpool.
Details of training days and times can be found on the Events page.
Contact numbers
Wendy De Corte 07731 442 986
Gail Tyrer 0151 280 2514
