DRAGONS Abreast are a Canberra based group of 18 breast cancer survivors who race dragon boats.

On the long weekend in June they are travelling to the Ord River in Western Australia to take part in the Ord River Marathon.

After paddling on Lake Burley Griffin for the last few years they have had to prepare ourselves for a totally different paddling experience; paddling 55 kms down the Ord River through rapids and past sleepy crocodiles. They have been reliably informed the crocodiles have not eaten anyone ever.

Organiser Dianne Bradshaw said “You don’t get a lot of crocodiles on our lake, more carp and the occasional kangaroo.”

“The planning for this all started last year, when after we had competed in our first 2km race in Canberra it was suggested to the ladies they might like to try a race that was 27.5 times longer. We have now been in training for this since last September.

“Our fitness levels have really improved (at the same time the blisters on delicate parts of our anatomy have not) and we have also completed 4 practice marathons taking us to parts of Lake Burley Griffin that we have never seen before.

“If someone had told me 4 years ago when I started paddling with Dragons Abreast that I would one day be paddling in a 55km Marathon, down rapids and past crocodiles I would have doubted their sanity.”

More information about Dragons Abreast is available on their website.