On the calm waters of Christchurch’s canals, the steady beat of a drum cuts through the quiet English town. In rhythm with it, paddles strike the water in unison, drawing attention from locals out on their leisurely Saturday morning walk.
But for the women of Pink Champagne, this is about far more than sport.
Established in 2008 by a small group of women recovering from breast cancer surgery, the group has grown from a local club on the south coast of England into a thriving community that stretches well beyond British shores.
Over the past 18 years, they have paddled across the world – from Venetian canals to the waterways of Vancouver – carrying with them a quiet message of strength and resilience.
Yet when you speak to the women involved, it quickly becomes clear that this is not a story about surviving. It is about living.
“It’s all about fitness, camaraderie, and being out on the water,” said Pink Champagne member, Amanda Hemsworth.
“We’ve all been through a collective experience, so we all understand each other.”
That shared understanding sits quietly beneath the surface. While every member has faced breast cancer, it is not the defining feature of their time on the boat.
“It’s not our main purpose,” said chair Nikki Mayhew. “But you do have a sense of understanding between each other.”
For Mayhew, who has been a member for nine years and chair for one, the sport began as a simple decision to try something new.
“I was always a sporty person, so I just thought I’d try it,” she said.
“It was a great opportunity to meet people, some of my best friends are people I met on the team.”
Dragon Boat itself has roots in recovery. The repetitive paddling motion is known to aid rehabilitation after breast cancer surgery, helping rebuild strength and mobility. But for this group, its impact goes far beyond the physical.
“What we try to project is life after breast cancer,” said Mayhew.
“It’s a strange thing to think about, sometimes I sit in the boat in some beautiful places and think, I wouldn’t even be here if I hadn’t had breast cancer.”
That perspective is echoed across the team. There is a recognition of the fear that comes with diagnosis – but also a quiet acknowledgement of the amazing opportunities that have followed.
For Patience Saunders, who joined in 2009 after a neighbour’s suggestion, the impact was deeply personal.
Dragon Boat was completely new to her.
“I’d never even been in a kayak before, but I gave it a go,” she said.
What she found was more than just a new activity and a sense of community, she found a part of herself again.
“I lost my confidence when I went through treatment but finding that I could do this, it gave me back that confidence.”
It also reshaped how her family saw her recovery. She noted that, “it showed my daughters that there is life after breast cancer.”
That sense of positivity is immediate, even to newer members. Sharon Ayres joined Pink Champagne in the autumn of 2025 after moving to the coast and looking for something active.
“They’re such an amazing group of women, they’re so positive,” said Ayres.
Despite being one of the younger members, she admits the experience was humbling.
“I came out the next day aching,” she laughed. “There are women in their 80s paddling next to me.”
With members ranging in age from 40 to 86, the group is open to all abilities and backgrounds – something Ayres says is central to its appeal.
“You just feel a part of them. They’re so inclusive and welcoming,” she said.
It is a sentiment repeated again and again: this is a team first, a support network second – even if the two are impossible to separate.
“No one really talks about cancer. You can, but it’s not really about that. It’s about doing something as a team and being around women who have also been through some tough challenges,” said Ayres.
Back on the water, the rhythm continues. For some, it’s their first time holding a paddle. For others, it’s taken them across the world.
From Christchurch to international waters, Pink Champagne has become a symbol of something quietly powerful: not just recovery, but renewal.
With every beat of the drum and stroke of the paddle, these women prove that life after breast cancer isn't defined by what’s been lost, but by everything still to come.
And if there’s one message they return to, time and time again, it’s this:
“Just give it a go.”
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