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Lantau Boat Club held its inaugural Pink Day last weekend to raise money for the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation and raise awareness of the benefits of rowing for breast cancer survivors.
The event would have been a larger gathering, followed by drinks and food, but due to Covid-19 restrictions, athletes participated from their “home waters” in Hong Kong and completed a set distance simultaneously.
“Being active for a cause was the topic of the day. Not only rowers and rowers, but runners, hikers and walkers exercised in and out of the water, complying at all times with the rules of social distancing, ”said the organizers.
One of the reasons the day was in favor of breast cancer is that there is a link between the disease and rowing. In 1996, Canadian sports scientist Don McKenzie studied the effect of dragon boats on breast cancer survivors.
The study found that upper body movement and the mental health benefits of team sports helped prevent a relapse of cancer. None of the women in the initial study developed lymphedema, a swelling in the extremities usually caused by lymph node removal during cancer treatment, during or after training. He found that increased blood and lymphatic flow boosted the immune system after breast cancer surgery.
More than 200 people participated in Pink Day in Hong Kong. There were rowers, outriggers and dragon sailors, but what surprised organizers was that the event transcended the rowing community.
“After everything was canceled, it didn’t surprise me that people wanted to be a part of something. But I was surprised that there were so many other sports groups, such as hikers. I think it was the cause. People want to support the cause, ”said Sabine Fischer, the event organizer.
“The idea was for everyone to not only row, but to be active and raise awareness,” he said.
Participants purchased a Pink Day t-shirt to help raise funds and wore it with pride while participating. The Lantau Boat Club rowers hugged the shoreline around Discovery Bay so they were visible and could draw more attention to their cause.
But some of the jerseys were sold as far away as Germany, New Zealand, the United States and Australia when word of the event spread.
Organizers said that when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, organizers will repeat the event and have a larger gathering at their clubhouse in Discovery Bay. They stressed that this was not a race, but a movement on the breast cancer movement.
You can donate to the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation here.
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