‘Celebrating the strength’: KC Pink Warriors are taking their strength overseas for an international race

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — KSHB 41 reporter Olivia Acree covers portions of Johnson County, Kansas, including Olathe and Lenexa. Share your story idea with Olivia.

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The KC Pink Warriors, a Kansas City dragon boat team made up of breast cancer survivors, is headed to an international competition this week.

Maybe you’ve seen them paddling down Brush Creek in the past, but this year, the team is taking their paddles to Aix-les-Bains, France, where they’ll compete against hundreds of breast cancer survivor teams from around the world in the International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission (IBCPC) Participatory Dragon Boat Festival.

The thing all the women have in common is cancer.

However, they want to show that they’re more than cancer survivors. They’re athletes too.

KC Pink Warriors

“We like to be out there and leave everything that has to do with cancer behind and lean into the fact that we're athletes, that we're strong, that we're committed to each other,” said KC Pink Warriors VP Beth Root.

Root told me this is not the team’s first time bringing their mission overseas, but this will be the biggest competition they’ve ever been in.

While dragon boating has become an important rehabilitation sport for many survivors, the Pink Warriors say it also creates a community where women can focus on their athletic abilities and support each other beyond their cancer journey.

KSHB

“We talk about one breath, one stroke, one team, because we have 20 people that are on a boat that literally need to be as efficient and effective as possible, pulling their way through that water and moving that boat forward,” said Root.

The Pink Warriors hope to compete hard, support each other and show what survivors are capable of long after treatment ends.

They’re traveling over the next few days, and their first race will take place Thursday.

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