Ellie's Story
The boat is my happy place.
Ellie found her breast cancer early, but after reconstructive surgery she was left with permanent pain. This was compounded upon by bouts of depression, which she has dealt with since her teens, as well as an unexpected heart attack. Getting involved in dragon boat paddling has helped with her recovery both socially and physically. By finding a group of people who’d been through similar circumstances and experiences, she’s not just found an activity she enjoys, but also an entire community of support.
How Ellie Gets Moving
Ellie mostly keeps active through dragon boat paddling, whether she’s doing warm-ups with the team or paddling in the water. The group she paddles with is entirely made up of other people affected by breast cancer, which provides both friendships and support. She also occasionally attends Pilates classes in her local cancer support centre, though she’ll skip these if she isn’t feeling too great.
Since we last spoke to Ellie, she has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Ellie is learning to adapt her activities to suit multiple conditions she has started aqua aerobics and says that “jumping in the pool is one of [her] favourite things”. She has even made a new group of friends in the classes, who often meet for coffee and a chat.
Related Resources
Here are some resources related to Ellie’s story about moving more:
Breast Cancer Now - Information on exercise and breast cancer