About

By women who know the power of starting again

Train Like a Dragon Boater is a four-week community fitness challenge created by CanSurvive Dragon Boat Club.

We are a Wellington-based community of breast cancer survivors and supporters who paddle for strength, friendship, confidence and the sheer joy of moving forward together.

In October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are inviting people throughout Aotearoa to sign up to train alongside us in November.

You do not need a paddle. You do not need a boat. You simply need to begin.

Join the challenge

Why we created the challenge

We know that starting can be the hardest part.

Life gets busy. Confidence disappears. Bodies change. Treatment, recovery, menopause, injury, work and family responsibilities can all affect how and when we move.

We also know that movement can be powerful.
It can help us feel stronger. It can create connection. It can give us something positive to work towards. Most importantly, it can remind us that progress does not have to look the same for everyone.

Train Like a Dragon Boater was created to help people take that first step and continue moving for four weeks. There is no requirement to be an athlete. There is nothing wrong in adapting an exercise. There is no need to wait for the perfect time.

Start now. Do it your way. Keep moving.

Who is CanSurvive?

CanSurvive is a Wellington dragon boating club for breast cancer survivors and supporters. We are a group of wāhine toa who train, race, laugh, travel and support one another through life on and off the water.

Dragon boating offers much more than exercise. For our paddlers, it can provide:

• Friendship and belonging
• Renewed physical confidence
• A supportive survivor community
• Challenging and meaningful goals
• Opportunities to compete
• A powerful reminder of what remains possible

Everyone in a dragon boat has a role. Progress comes from moving together, supporting the person beside you and continuing to paddle when the race becomes difficult. That same spirit sits at the heart of this challenge.

Train with world champions

CanSurvive has represented Wellington and New Zealand with pride at national and international competitions. Our paddlers are current world champions. That achievement was built through commitment, trust, teamwork and thousands of repeated movements at training.

World champions do not become strong in one heroic session. They become strong by returning, practising and doing the work one day at a time. Over four weeks, we will share some of that championship mindset with you:

• Begin with what you can do today
• Focus on consistent effort
• Adapt when circumstances change
• Encourage the people around you
• Recover when you need to
• Keep moving towards the finish line

You may not finish the challenge with a world championship medal, but we hope you finish feeling stronger, more confident and proud that you started.

Why sign up in October?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is a time to remember those we have lost, support people living with and beyond breast cancer, encourage important health conversations and celebrate survivors.

For CanSurvive, awareness is personal. Our team demonstrates that life after a breast cancer diagnosis can still contain strength, competition, friendship, adventure and extraordinary achievement.

Train Like a Dragon Boater turns awareness into action. Every participant is doing something positive for their own wellbeing while helping sustain a community built around breast cancer survivorship.

Where your registration fee goes

CanSurvive is a community organisation that relies on registrations, fundraising, grants and sponsorship to keep our teams on the water. Your $50 registration helps support costs such as:

• Training
• Dragon boat equipment
• Safety gear
• Regatta entry
• Club operations
• Travel and competition costs
• Making participation more accessible to members

By joining the challenge, you are not only investing in your own health. You are helping breast cancer survivors and supporters continue training, competing and experiencing the connection that comes from being part of a crew.

Our challenge values

Who can participate?

Everyone is welcome. You may be:

• New to exercise
• Returning after time away
• Already training regularly
• A breast cancer survivor
• Supporting someone affected by breast cancer
• Looking for a workplace wellbeing challenge
• Keen to improve your consistency
• Ready for some friendly competition
• Simply looking for a reason to start

The campaign focuses on women’s health and breast cancer awareness, but participation is open to people of all genders.

Our message to you

You do not have to move like anyone else. You do not have to complete every activity perfectly. You do not have to wait until Monday, next month or the mythical day when life suddenly becomes quiet.

Begin with what you have. Adapt when you need to. Ask your crew for encouragement. Then come back tomorrow.

That is how dragon boaters train. That is how progress is made.

Start where you are. Build a stronger, healthier you while supporting CanSurvive and raising awareness of the benefits of movement for people affected by breast cancer.

JOIN THE CHALLENGE