“It takes courage to face into cancer treatment, and it takes courage to join a club of strangers and get out on the water and test your limits – but the rewards are immeasurable”
Breast cancer survivor and Irish Cancer Society Board of Directors member shares excitement at participating in French regatta as part of breast cancer dragon boat team
24th August 2026: Breast cancer survivor and Irish Cancer Society Board of Directors member Maria Fleming (pictured above) is part of a dragon boat team composed of breast cancer survivors called the Plurabelle Paddlers.
The team will be participating in the 2026 IBCP (International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission) Participatory Dragon Boat Festival for Breast Cancer Survivors from August 24 to 30, 2026 on the shores of Lac du Bourget in Aix-les-Bains, France.
The Plurabelle Paddlers is a breast cancer dragon boat club and registered charity, based in Grand Canal Dock in Dublin and was founded in 2010 by Fiona Tiernan.
After treatment for a recurrence of breast cancer, Fiona decided to manage her health by getting fit. She was inspired by the breast cancer dragon boat movement first pioneered in Canada 15 years earlier.
Maria’s path to the Plurabelle Paddlers began in August 2019, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Speaking about when she was diagnosed, Dublin woman Maria said: “I remember my consultant saying that I was looking at a possible year-and-a-half of treatment, and thinking, ‘I don't have a year-and-a-half to give to cancer, I could maybe give it 6 months’, as if I had a choice. It was all very sudden and shocking.
“My next thought was the fear of how I would manage financially if I couldn't work. I think about that now in relation to others hearing of a diagnosis, and I hate the thought of anyone feeling that they had to think about anything other than getting better.
“That is one of the reasons I volunteered with the Irish Cancer Society Advocacy Champions to campaign on issues like hospital day charges and car parking fees – anything that might ease the financial burden of cancer.”
Maria was successfully treated with chemotherapy and surgery. She had seen women on a dragon boat in Grand Canal Dock and later found out they were the Plurabelle Paddlers. She signed up for the team during the pandemic and became a member when lockdown restrictions eased.
Commenting on her decision to join the Plurabelle Paddlers, Maria said: “I had seen the Plurabelle Paddlers out on the Grand Canal Dock before I knew that it was in any way related to breast cancer. I wanted something positive to come out of my illness, to make lemonade with those lemons. I could not have imagined how brilliant a decision it would be to join the Plurabelles.
“The Plurabelle Paddlers offers a way to keep active and healthy and build back your strength. It also offers great camaraderie and great fun. It takes courage to face into cancer treatment, and it takes courage to join a club of strangers and get out on the water and test your limits – but the rewards are immeasurable.”
The Plurabelle Paddlers are one of four Irish breast cancer dragon boat teams that will participate in the 2026 IBCPC (International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission) Participatory Dragon Boat Festival for Breast Cancer Survivors.
The 2026 Festival will welcome 4,500 participants from the current 320 IBCPC member teams, from 37 countries across all continents.
Sharing her excitement at taking part in the festival in France, Maria said: “We signed up for this regatta two years ago, so we have been anticipating this for a long time. While other club members have attended the festival before, this will be my first time.
“I am looking forward to the scale of the event, with 4,500 women participating, and I am looking forward to racing. It’s always great to push yourself and put your weeks of training to the test.
“I’m excited to get going and I look forward to meeting paddlers from other countries. So much work goes into organising it all. I am really grateful to the team members volunteering their time to make it all happen.”
Breast cancer patient and Chair of the Board of the Plurabelle Paddlers, Marion Egan, added: “I was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, age 41, with no family history. It was a huge shock. I had surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment and thought that was it.
“Unfortunately, in 2017 I was diagnosed with metastatic disease. I had a liver resection, more chemotherapy and then targeted therapy. I feel incredibly lucky to be here and so well nine years later. I strongly believe the exercise and support I receive from Plurabelle Paddlers, along with my treatments, are the reason I am doing so well.
“I am beyond excited to be going to France to take part in the festival next week. I have been working with a small team within the club, planning our participation, for the last two-and-half years.
“I couldn’t be going with a better group of people. They have taught me to embrace life in a new way, to challenge myself and not let fear stop me from going for it. It’s going to be actioned-packed, fun, and emotional. My wish is for the team have memories to last a lifetime.”
Anyone with concerns or questions about cancer can contact the Irish Cancer Society Support Line on Freephone 1800 200 700 or supportline@irishcancer.ie
ENDS
For media requests, please contact the Irish Cancer Society’s communications team at communications@irishcancer.ie or call 087 645 3867.
Maria is available for interview up to and including during the 2026 IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival for Breast Cancer Survivors.
About the Irish Cancer Society:
The Irish Cancer Society is the largest voluntary sector funder of life-saving cancer research in Ireland; delivers a range of free services to support patients and their families during and beyond cancer; advocates for and raises awareness of cancer issues at government level; and provides up-to-date resources and accessible cancer information to raise public awareness of cancer at cancer.ie
