Stevensville, MD: Bosom Buddies Charities has awarded a grant to the Annapolis Dragon Boat Club (ADBC) to create the Brigitte Wallace McKee Bosom Buddies Fund. This fund will be used to provide need-based financial support to individuals receiving a breast cancer diagnosis and wish to participate in ADBC’s activities.
The fund is named in honor of Brigitte Wallace McKee (1976 -2020) who fought metastatic breast cancer with grace and bravery, serving as an inspiration to all of those who had the good fortune to know her. Brigitte discovered dragon boating following her initial breast cancer diagnosis in Charleston, SC, and continued her passion for the sport with ADBC on her move to Annapolis. “We know Brigitte would love nothing more than to be helping those who have received a breast cancer diagnosis by sharing her love of dragon boating,” said Joni Krafft, ADBC Chairwoman .
Dragonboat racing has become an international movement for breast cancer survivors. The rigorous sport helps women avoid one of the most difficult complications of breast cancer: lymphedema, the painful swelling that can occur after the surgical removal of lymph nodes.
“We are so pleased to provide this grant to enable the Annapolis Dragon Boat Club start this fund,” said Claudia Boldyga, BBC Chair. “We know that participation in dragon boat racing has tremendous health and wellness benefits for breast cancer survivors. BBC’s contribution to ADBC will make membership available to anyone who wants to participate.”
ADBC has two dragon boats, each 40 feet long, accommodating 20 paddlers plus a steerer and a drummer. Their headquarters is at Pier 4 Marina in Annapolis, where four times each week paddlers ranging from novice to experienced convene for 90-minute sessions that include an exercise warm-up, a brief training, and/or motivational lecture.
“Dragonboat racing offers women a treatment activity that helps them to chart a new normal and get back to their lives and goals before they were diagnosed with breast cancer. Our members call themselves breast cancer warriors, and we demonstrate recovery with every stroke,” says ADBC Chairwoman Joni Krafft.
Bosom Buddies Charities was founded in 2006 by Kent Island resident Susan Ponchock to raise breast cancer awareness and provide diagnostic services to area residents. Over the past 16 years, the organization has raised over $2 million in support of her mission. Susan passed away on March 19, 2021. Building upon Susan’s legacy, Bosom Buddies Charities continues to advance the organization’s mission: promote breast cancer awareness, encourage early detection, support treatment and celebrate healing.
For more information about ADBC and the Brigitte Wallace McKee Bosom Buddies Fund, visit annapolisdragonboatclub.org. For more information about Bosom Buddies Charities, visit bosombuddiescharities.com.
Caption: Members of the Annapolis Dragon Boat Club (ADBC) in one of their boats decorated in pink with the ADBC and the Bosom Buddies Charities (BBC) logo featured on the side of the boat honoring BBC’s recent grant to the organization. (Photo by Heather James)