Our Team
Meet River Spirit
A women’s dragon boat team founded by breast cancer survivors, paddling together on the Campbell River estuary since 2003.
Who we are
One team. One boat. One spirit.
Raising the public’s awareness of breast cancer remains River Spirit’s top goal. We encourage athletic excellence amongst our members through paddling and participating in dragon boat races, and we compete in all the major dragon boat events on Vancouver Island.
We paddle seriously, but we do our best to keep it all good fun. Above all else, we believe in keeping a spirit of camaraderie and solidarity alive between our paddlers.
[PLACEHOLDER – Society & team: add one or two sentences explaining how the Campbell River Dragon Boat Society and River Spirit relate, using wording confirmed by the Society.]
Our history
How River Spirit began
The idea for a breast cancer survivor team in Campbell River began almost two years before River Spirit launched its first boat. While staying at Victoria’s Cancer Lodge during treatment, Sally Feast and her roommate noticed a dragon boat team starting in Nanaimo. They both wanted to join, even though it would mean a long commute.
By the time they were fit enough to paddle, Hope Afloat in Comox already had a team. In 2003, Sally and fellow Hope Afloat paddlers Vicki Hansen and Corrinne Mergaert joined twenty other breast cancer survivors from Campbell River to form River Spirit.
Community support was nothing less than amazing. Local groups helped pay for a trailer, lifejackets, paddles, insurance and T-shirts, and the Freshwater Marina offered the team free moorage. With her background as a fitness instructor and one season of paddling experience, Sally became the team’s tiller, coach and lead motivator.
Our first-year paddlers (2003)
Nancy Bryson, Robin Geary, Sheila Marshall, Sandy Carmichael, Juli Gibson, Anita McCabe, Sharon Cathey, Vicki Hansen, Linda McMann, Maggie Cole, Deanna Hunt, Corrinne Mergaert, Nancy Curley, Pat Keleny, Molly Milroy, Carol Cuzzocrea, Sally Kerr, Sharon Morasky, Marilyn Dean, Linda Lazare, Shirley Muress, Tina Dent, Chris Lengert, Iris Parrish, Gladys Derraugh, Valerie Leonard, Shirley Peterson, Diane Douglas, Dawn Logan, Maureen Ritchie, Kit Dunnett, Veronica Magnusson, Pat Ritchie, Sally Feast, Manjit Manhas, Becky Simnor, Liz Williams and Jean Wrohan.
2002
Sally Feast, Vicki Hansen and Corrinne Mergaert become the first Campbell River women to train with Hope Afloat in Comox.
2003
River Spirit is formed. By May the team has raised over $21,000 — enough to buy a sixteen-metre dragon boat from Vancouver builder Vincent Lo.
2012
The club buys a second boat thanks to a generous donation from local businessman Alan Edie. River Spirit II is dedicated to his mother, Lois Edie.
Today
Approximately sixty survivors have been team members, and River Spirit is known all over the Island for its camaraderie and team spirit.
Breast cancer survivor heritage
Founded by survivors
River Spirit began as a breast cancer survivor team and is part of a worldwide movement that showed dragon boat paddling helps survivors become fitter, healthier and happier — and gives them a powerful way to raise awareness. Today the team is open to all women paddlers, and supporting cancer awareness remains at the heart of everything we do.
With our recent move to Campbell River, I was thrilled to know that I would be able to join a women’s dragon boat crew composed of breast cancer survivors and associates! What a welcoming group with whom to continue this exhilarating sport!
What we stand for
Team values and community
Awareness
Raising the public’s awareness of breast cancer is our top goal, on and off the water.
Athletic excellence
We train hard and race at the major dragon boat events across Vancouver Island.
Camaraderie
Our members are active in the community and support one another through life’s changes.
Who can participate
There’s a seat in the boat for you
River Spirit welcomes adult women paddlers of every age, background and fitness level.
No experience needed
Absolutely none! Beginners are always welcome in the boat.
All fitness levels
We accept all fitness levels — though you may end up becoming a “super athlete”.
Try it first
You can try paddling before you commit. Our membership contact can arrange it.
Equipment supplied
Paddles and PFDs are supplied to each member when you join.
Adults 19+
There is no maximum age. Paddlers under 19 can join us on the boat as guests.
Everyone belongs
Paddlers with a physical disability are welcome, provided it doesn’t create a safety issue for the boat.
Leadership
Club executive
[PLACEHOLDER – confirm current executive. Names below are from the previous website.]
Executive
President – Val Larson
Vice-President – Jean Wrohan
Treasurer – Pat Ritchie
Secretary – Liz McLelan
5th Director – Barb Cruise
Team
Membership – Carol Dodds
Team Captain – Maureen Schmuland
Coaches
Nick Hindle
Leslee Samson
Sally Feast
Team photos
On and off the water
Join us
Ready to paddle with us?
New paddlers are always welcome — no experience necessary.