History
In late 2007, Lucille Allegretti-Freeman was completing chemotherapy for Stage 3 breast cancer. While dealing with hair loss, medical appointments and the anticipated radiation, she was also looking beyond the end of treatment. Like many who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, she experienced a shift in her world, along with a sense of uncertainty and a longing to heal. When she learned about dragon boating - quite accidentally - she thought it sounded perfect to move her forward, emotionally and physically.
When she started talking about it, the most common reaction was "What is dragon boating?" It seemed like no one in the Capital Region of NY had heard about it. But her early mentors from sister breast cancer teams (Hope Chest Buffalo, Hope Afloat Philadelphia and Dragon Heart Vermont) encouraged her to spread the word and promised it would bring positive people who would help her realize her vision of a fully functioning dragon boat team.
And it did! Soon after she submitted articles in 2 local breast cancer agencies newsletters, a handful of women met for the first time on November 8, 2007. The group grew slowly at first, but thanks to a March 2008 article about Lu's efforts to start the team in the Albany Times Union, several more women joined. At the first practice in April on a cold rainy day, 16 women showed up. And this was to practice on a picnic table! The first season was all dry land practicing, either on picnic tables or a dock at Schodack Island State Park. Sue Spang was the team's coach for the first month followed by Barry Greene, the husband of a team member. A former canoe instructor, Barry enthusiastically learned about dragon boating and competently instructed the team. The team met, week after week, to sit on a dock and paddle in synch to his gentle voice. Barb Neiman, member and certified aerobics instructor, led the team in stretching and warm up exercises before each practice.
The team bravely entered its first dragon boat festival, Paddle for Pink, in NJ on June 1, 2008. For everyone but Lu, who had been to dragon boat camp, it was their first time in a dragon boat. The team only had 11 women who could attend the festival, but some friends and members of the team Against the Wind helped them fill their boat. The practice session the day before the race was cut short due to lightning and thunder, but the team was enthusiastic and ready on race day. The team's goal was to complete the race and expected to come in last place. Hope in the Boat came in second place! The photos on that day with the medals and huge grins say it all. This team is here to stay.
The nine members of the newly formed board of Hope in the Boat met often and handled all the details of incorporating and moving the team forward. Team members met before each practice and shared ideas about fund raising, ordering shirts, and ways to get new members. By the time they entered their second festival at the beginning of August 2008 in Burlington VT, the team had 24 members. Hope in the Boat was the only breast cancer team at Burlington that did not have a boat to practice in; they were known as the picnic table team. That race ended their first season, but the team continued to meet and began fund raising in earnest. In less than one year the team raised enough money to purchase their first dragon boat, to be delivered in May 2009.