Marnie McBean Welcomes Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Teams August 11, 2009 On Friday, Aug. 14th from 11:00am-4pm. a ‘Meet & Greet’ reception will be held for the fourteen breast cancer survivor teams coming to the London Dragon Boat Festival from Newfoundland, Quebec, New York, Ontario, Wisconsin and Nova Scotia. These teams will be joining in the celebration of Rowbust Dragonboat Racing Team’s 10th. anniversary. On hand to welcome the teams will be: - internationally renowned metastatic cancer researcher Dr. Ann Chambers - Marnie McBean (see bio. below) This event will take place at the Watson Porter pavilion, Fanshawe Conservation Area and will provide an opportunity for the media to meet the paddlers and guests. A complimentary lunch and snacks are provided.
In the early afternoon, Marnie will be trying her hand at dragon boating with ‘TK’ of the Rowbust team members who is presently undergoing chemotherapy and fighting a steep uphill battle against metastatic breast cancer, diagnosed this spring.. She and her family, along with some Rowbust members are thrilled to be joining Marnie for a short paddle. ‘TK’ is a true inspiration. She is very popular at the chemotherapy unit, generously giving paddling advice and suggestions to the nurses in the unit who themselves have formed a dragon boat team ‘Remission Possible’ to compete in this weekend’s races. Marnie McBean is a three time Olympic rowing champion, who with her rowing partner Kathleen Heddle are Canada’s most successful Olympians. She has 12 World medals and was the World Cup Champion in the single. A graduate of Honours Kinesiology at Western, she has been presented with three honourary doctorates, the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal and is a member of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. Marnie is currently working as a Manager of Olympic Preparation with the Canadian Olympic Committee where she works with all athletes, Summer and Winter Games, to maintain their swagger (!) and achieve their potential in the Olympic Environment.
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