ORLANDO, Fla. – Oct. 1 marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
According to the American Cancer Society, an average of over 300,000 people in the U.S. are newly diagnosed with the disease every year.
There are many support groups in Central Florida for breast cancer fighters and survivors. The Warriors on Water is one of those groups. Founded in 2009, Warriors on Water is a team of breast cancer survivors who compete in Dragon boat racing.
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Orlando’s Warriors practice every Wednesday on Lake Fairview. Often, the boat is filled with 20 paddlers who work together in sync, powering the vessel through water. They’re more than teammates.
The athletes make up a support system and a sisterhood. Bonded by the experience of battling cancer, the Warriors lean on each other for advice and camaraderie.
They also depend on each other to compete. Orlando’s Warriors on Water compete with other Dragon boat teams of breast cancer survivors in Florida, across the country, and even around the world.
The Warriors will make a special trip to France in 2026.