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Breast Cancer Survivor Teams & Flower Ceremony
The breast cancer flower ceremony is a tradition that has become a major part of dragon boat festivals. In 1997, a breast cancer survivor team in Vancouver carried pink carnations with them as a sign of hope for a fellow teammate who had recurrence of the disease. Following their last race, the team spontaneously threw their carnations into the water, and the flower ceremony was born.
The breast cancer flower ceremony is a must see event at dragon boat festivals. While the color and type of flower may vary, the reason for holding the event never changes. The flower ceremony honors those who have passed away, gives hope to those who are battling, and celebrates those who have survived.
When the music starts, paddlers raise their pink flowers above their heads and join hands with the paddlers in the next boat. With the flowers raised, the paddlers and audience alike reflect on the lives that have been touched by breast cancer. When the music stops, the paddlers and the audience toss their flowers into the water.
The Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival is proud to hold the Nepean Masters Swim Club Breast Cancer Challenge Cup for BCS teams. In order to participate in this Cup, all members of the team must be breast cancer survivors. This Challenge Cup is held on Sunday morning, followed by a traditional flower ceremony on the beachfront. The ceremony includes the scattering of pink colored flowers on the water at the end of the final breast cancer race. This is a tradition that has long been a part of the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival. The tradition honours those women who have passed away from breast cancer, those who are still fighting, and those who have overcome.
