United by rowing, sustained by friendship

The Pink Ribbonettes groups of current and former breast cancer patients who row together for a variety of reasons: to connect with peers, for rehabilitation, and for fun. What unites them goes far beyond sports alone. It’s about recovering together, laughing together, and rebuilding confidence in both body and mind together. The initiative has been active in Belgium for ten years and is still growing, under the auspices of Pink Ribbon.

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Origins in Venice: side by side in a single boat

The story begins in the mid-1990s in Canada. There, physical therapist Don McKenzie brought women with breast cancer together in a dragon boat. He observed that intensive upper-body exercise stimulates lymphatic drainage and can help prevent or reduce symptoms such as lymphedema. The women continued to paddle together, simply because it did them good. This is how the international concept“abreast in a boat” came about, literally: shoulder to shoulder in a boat.

The idea spread worldwide, from Canada to China, and also reached Europe. In 2015, Pink Ribbon ten Belgian women with breast cancer to Venice for an exchange with the local rowing group“Pink Lioness Venezia.” For a week, they shared not only rowing techniques, but also stories, uncertainties, and hope. The participants described the experience as unforgettable.

Rosette Van Rossem, then a board member of Pink Ribbon, was one of the driving forces behind this exchange. The Belgian women committed to launching the Venetian model in their own country upon their return. This is how the first Belgian Pink Ribbonettes came into being, with groups in Lier, Turnhout, and Brussels.

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Local teams, one shared strength

Although each group has its own unique character, all Pink Ribbonettes share Pink Ribbonettes core values: solidarity, visibility, and moving forward together.

In Lier , the Pink Ribbonettes a group of 14 women, paddle on the Binnennete every Sunday morning , weather permitting. In Lier, the Pink Ribbonettes do not use a dragon boat: “It’s difficult to maneuver a dragon boat on the Nete. That’s why we use a ten-seater, which uses the same paddling strokes.” The group is affiliated with the local canoe club and is able to use one of their boats.

They gather at the Royal Canoe Club in Lier, where they launch their pink canoe together. Getting into the canoe takes a little time, especially after the winter break, but it’s always accompanied by laughter and good-natured teasing. In Lier, the Pink Ribbonettes are Pink Ribbonettes so well-known that passersby spontaneously lend a hand to pull the canoe out of the water or give it a quick push.

After that, they row for an hour under the city’s bridges, maintaining a steady, calm rhythm. After the paddle, they enjoy a coffee break in the canoe club’s canteen, where the stories keep flowing. Even away from the water, they stay active together—they go for walks and attend local events in Lier. When it gets too cold to paddle in the dead of winter, they simply put on their hiking boots. “We’ve become a real group of friends by now,” they say, and you can feel that in everything we do.

On the Anderlecht Canal, it’s almost a ritual. The Pink Ribbonettes Brussels, a group of 31 women, head out together as soon as the boat hits the water. Except in winter, they row twice a week, on Tuesday and Saturday afternoons. During the winter months, they at least keep up their regular Saturday outing, because standing still isn’t their style.

Each training session has a different focus. Sometimes they work specifically on technique, while other times the focus is on speed or coordination. This keeps them challenging themselves and helps them grow not only in physical strength but also in confidence and teamwork. They carry this athletic spirit with them into the community: the Brussels Pink Ribbonettes in various events and serve as proud ambassadors for the initiative.

At the same time, the group serves as a safe and welcoming space for many women. Everyone contributes according to their own abilities, in an atmosphere of respect and camaraderie. The result is a close-knit, athletic team that rows together, laughs together, and moves forward together.

In Turnhout , the Pink Ribbonettes are Pink Ribbonettes fixture. The group consists of about eighteen current and former breast cancer patients. They row every Sunday, all year round. Thanks to sponsorship, they were able to purchase their own dragon boat , which was given the meaningful name “Our Strength”: K for cancer, RA for radiology, CH for chemo, and T for therapy. The boat symbolizes the physical and emotional strength that women give each other. It’s no coincidence that they sometimes call their dragon boat a “chat boat.” In Turnhout Pink Ribbonettes too, the Pink Ribbonettes a fixture. Cyclists and hikers immediately recognize them by their striking pink outfits and their beautiful dragon boat as they paddle together on the water in unison.

Why row?

Many breast cancer patients experience lymphedema after breast surgery. This can have a significant impact on daily life. Rowing and paddling stimulate lymphatic drainage and help alleviate the symptoms of what is known as “swollen arm syndrome.” It is a form of strength training that is accessible to almost everyone and can be adapted to each person’s pace.

But the impact of rowing goes beyond the physical. Sitting together in a single boat perfectly symbolizes what the Pink Ribbonettes : we’re all in this together. Working well as a team is essential. If just one person loses their rhythm, the whole boat feels it. That’s where the strength lies: moving together, reaching a destination together, and feeling supported by the group.

By making themselves visible in pink outfits, on the water, and at events, the Pink Ribbonettes are Pink Ribbonettes helping to break the taboo surrounding breast cancer. They’re sending a clear message: talk about breast cancer, get active together, and connect with others who’ve been through the same experience.

Join the Pink Ribbonettes and come sail with us

You Pink Ribbonettes to have a background in sports to join the Pink Ribbonettes ; the shared experience of breast cancer is what brings us together. Having a swollen arm is by no means a requirement. Strength training, such as paddling, is beneficial for all patients, even during or shortly after treatment.

Internationally, similar paddling groups are united under the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission, a global network that connects thousands of women.

Every week, the Pink Ribbonettes that exercising together heals both body and soul. What began as an exchange in Venice continues today on Belgian waters and will hopefully soon Pink Ribbonettes to include more Pink Ribbonettes more cities.

Discover how strength, friendship, and exercise come together to make a difference, and join the Pink Ribbonettes.

Are you interested in joining a rowing team? Send an email to info@pink-ribbon.be or contact the team you’d like to join directly:

• Lier: Monique Quayhaegens via mqu.1951@gmail.com
• Turnhout: Carine Van Hoppe via carine.vanhoppe@skynet
• Brussels: Liliane De Boeck via pinkribbonettebxl@gmail.com