Cancer Thriver Flotilla: A Journey of Survivors and Supporters

Did you know that

Exercise Helps Prevent and Treat Breast Cancer!

Spread the word by supporting the Cancer Thriver Flotilla...

Help us Meet Our Goal of Promoting Cancer Thrivers

We have 3 main goals. We hope you'll help us meet these goals:

1. Help Cancer Survivors become Cancer Thrivers

• We want to let the world know what people with cancer can do, and share by example so more cancer survivors become Cancer Thrivers  -- people who are living meaningful and active lives, no matter their diagnosis.

2. Raise Money for 3 Awesome Breast Cancer Organizations

•  We'll donate to three wonderful organizations that help breast cancer survivors become Cancer Thrivers: Living Beyond Breast Cancer, BreastCancer.org, and GoPink!DC, the DC breast cancer survivors’ Dragon Boat team.

3. Spread the Word about Exercise and Cancer

• Exercise helps prevent and treat breast cancer. Really!

The Flotilla: An Epic Journey

On Labor Day Weekend, 2014, Zahara Heckscher and a team planned an amazing journey:  traveling from the Anacostia River,  by Stand Up Paddle (SUP), canoe, kayak, bike, and foot, overnight in Old Town, Virginia, and end up at Riverside park in Mt. Vernon, VA. 

Zahara is a cancer thriver who just celebrated her 50th birthday --  a birthday made possible by progress in cancer treatment. She planned to celebrate by being the first person to Stand Up Paddle miles down this part of the Potomac River, with a team of kayakers, SUPers, bikers, and walkers, as part of this flotilla.

On August 30-31, we completed the first part of the journey: We tag teamed the 15.5 in a combination of walking, biking, Stand Up Paddling and Kayaks. Weather, wind, 3 foot waves, and a serious bout of seasickness (!) meant that Zahara was able to complete about 7 miles of the journey on a Stand Up Paddle. Others pieced together the whole trip, all the way to Mt Vernon! (But threat of lightening meant the last 5.5 miles were by land only.) What’s next? Working with the team, Zahara will plan another trip to “make up” the 7.5 miles by Stand Up Paddle with other team members in kayaks. You’re invited to join and support this effort.

Martin Weil and Zahara Heckscher lead the Stand Up Paddling team for the Cancer Thrivers Flotilla. Here they are at Boating in DC's Key Bridge location. 

Zahara Heckscher is a Cancer Thriver and the coordinator of the Cancer Thriver Flotilla. She is a mother, wife, writer, and educator. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. She recently completed chemotherapy and is in ongoing treatment. 

Who else is part of the team? Other survivors, friends and supporters in various roles. The kayakers, walkers and bikers include Marcia West, Martin Weil, Eileen McCarthy, Bracha Laster, John Laster, Lori Waselchuk, Jane Crawford, Eric Thiel, Max Heckscher. Debra Farkas and Susan Boracas were the lead trip supporters, with many other friends taking part to help. 

Lori Waselchuk was the official team photographer. See the video for more of her images. 

Honor "Boats" 

• Would you like to honor a cancer thriver in your life, a supporter, a fallen warrior in the struggle against cancer, or a medical provider such as an oncology nurse? One of our perks is an Honor "Boat", a special leaf with that person's name and a personal message from you. If you get this perk, we'll contact you to get the details of your message. We'll also email you a photo of the boat. 
• We launched the first boats over Labor Day Weekend, and will launch additional Honor Boats on October 5.

Where does your donation go?

Our funding will be used as follows

• Part of the funding will go for the direct costs of the journey, such as the boat and truck rental (most items will be donated or paid for by participants, so that we can make a maximum donation to the beneficiaries)
• All additional donations will go right to the three fabulous breast cancer organizations:

GoPink!DC is one of the beneficiaries of your donations.

Risks & Challenges

• This is a challenging journey. We'll have a team of folks to help us deal with the dangers, such as the water bacteria. 
• The risk of lightning on August 31 meant we had to get off the river for the last 5.5 miles of the journey. We'll make up these miles in additional events October 5 and 12. 

Other Ways You Can Help (and our Schedule)

• Please like the campaign and email it to your friends
• If you want to join us in the second part of the journey by SUPing, canoe, walking or biking, email Zaharapeace@gmail.com. 
• Email Zaharapeace@gmail.com if you'd like to volunteer
• Share this link with media contacts and ask them to cover this event
• Tell all the women you know: exercise helps prevent and treat breast cancer.