Dallas United Crew PINK

“It’s not what I thought I would be telling you and not what I want to tell you; you have breast cancer. It is Triple Negative Invasive Ductal Carcinoma”. Time stood still when I heard those words at 8:59 am on May 9, 2023, and tried to make sense of what I had just heard. I was determined not just to survive from that moment but to thrive. I read a book called “Finding the Can in Cancer” and set out to embrace the detour life handed me. I fought hard with the support of family and friends to make it through all phases of treatment and have been so blessed by everyone’s support. In September of 2024, I reached a point where I knew I needed to find women like me and find something I could do to help improve both my physical and mental strength.  In my research, I came across the website for DUCPink.org and clicked on “Get Involved”. Those few minutes it took to complete the form were life-changing. I was hooked the first day on the water with the ladies and have benefited both physically and mentally.

Dallas United Crew PINK is a team of survivors who paddle together on White Rock Lake. What began as a way for me to stay active became so much more: fitness, friendship, competition, laughter, travel and a community of women connected by an experience none of us chose.

Fast forward to the last week of August where I had the opportunity to participate with 4500 breast cancer survivors from around the world in the IBCPC Festival in France. Paddling in the boat with my team mates on the beautiful, glacier fed lake at the base of the Alps, the Parade of Nations, meeting ladies from around the world and Flower Ceremony were all incredible experiences that I want to be able to share moving forward with other breast cancer survivors.

This North Texas Giving Day, we’re raising $16,500 for a new 20-person dragon boat — giving us more capacity to welcome more survivors onto the water and more opportunities for women to discover what PINK can become in their lives.

Each seat in the boat helps a breast cancer survivor to find strength, friendship, adventure and a community ready to welcome her.  This is what I found and want to pay forward.  

Help me put other survivors in the boat.  No amount is too small or too large 💗