Member Profile: Chancey

by Marla Khan-Schwartz

Chancey was just two years past her treatment for lymphoma when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in the fall of 2020. At the time, she was trying to have a child but was told she would need a surrogate. And the support she received at the beginning of her cancer journey meant everything.

“All of my close friends knew I was waiting for the two-year mark to carry an embryo,” she reflects.

That’s when Chancey’s best friend stepped in and volunteered to carry an already frozen embryo while she completed treatment. As she finished up her treatments, her friend delivered her baby girl.

The now two-time cancer survivor is enjoying life as a mom, but also paddling with the Dragon Divas. She was referred to the Dragon Divas through a family connection, and after she met other paddlers, decided it was the path she wanted to take towards recovery and support. In the fall of 2021, she joined.

For Chancey, being able to talk to the other Dragon Divas for advice or support is an added bonus of being part of the team. “It's given me an additional community of people who have a shared experience, which I think is really powerful,” she explains.

Chancey says each person can progress at paddling endurance at their own speed and learn paddling techniques at their own pace. “There's always somebody who says, “Yep, I have that too, and here's some things [techniques] they tried,” she says. “Or [someone] who understands how to give you space and engage at the level that you're able to. That feels encouraging. This person took one step at a time and is now paddling on both [left and right] sides.”

Besides paddling, the Dragon Divas offer additional resources throughout the year like strength training, art-related activities, book club, organized outings and walks. Chancey wants others to explore the Dragon Divas not just for paddling, but for the community offered.

“It's an amazing community with incredible resources,” she says. “I would encourage new members to ask questions, or to participate in experiences where they want to be connected with someone [on the team] with similar experiences.”

Challenging herself to paddle has rejuvenated Chancey’s self-confidence. She competed in the 2023 International Dragon Boat Festival in New Zealand alongside other teams of breast cancer survivors– all while her family who also attended, cheered her on. “It's been inspiring on a personal level,” Chancey reflects. “It’s helped me see the things I can actually do.”

The paddling experience resonates with Chancey in many ways, including realizing that prior to joining the team, she wasn’t aware how much being part of the Dragon Divas might be a necessary way towards her own healing process.

She says, "Sometimes you don't realize that you really need it until you're in it. I encourage people to explore, try it, and engage in some ways before they decide.”