A person would be hard pressed to find a support group for breast cancer survivors quite like the Mammoglams.
While these 35 women support each other by sharing experiences, advice, struggles and challenges — just as with any such group — they also make up a highly successful dragon boat racing team. In fact, at the conclusion in April of the International Breast Cancer Festival race in New Zealand, they were ranked 13th in the world.
“We call ourselves a floating support group,” said founder Jeri Millard. “And our motto is: We won the battle, now let’s paddle.”
A dragon boat is a type of rowboat, 42 feet in length, that seats 20 synchronized paddlers in two rows of 10. In some of these national and international competitions, however, there are only 10 paddlers per boat. At the bow is a drummer who provides the cadence for the paddlers. At the stern is the person steering.
The team performed so well at this year’s Club Crew National Championships that they won a berth to compete next year at the 14th Club Crew World Championships in Ravenna, Italy.
“We’re very excited about that,” said Millard.
The secret to their success is simple: hard work.
“We practice hard!” said Millard. “The racing is easy in comparison to our practices.”
With Millard’s husband as the coach, the team practices for about an hour and a half at a time, but they also eat better and work out. In fact, studies have shown that paddling a boat is good for breast cancer survivors because it reduces the risk of lymphedema, the build-up of fluid in soft body tissues when lymph nodes have been removed or are otherwise not effective.
It also helps elevate the survivor’s mood after having endured the surgery.
“When you’re in a boat, when you’re exercising like that, and your endorphins kick in and everything, you feel so much better,” said Millard. “And breast cancer survivors really need to feel better about themselves.”
The team practices at Windward Beach Marine, formerly Beach Marine, 2315 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach.
The Mammoglams grew out of a breast cancer support group Millard conducted at her nonprofit, In The Pink. Providing an activity with goals proved to be an effective vehicle for survivors wanting to support one another. The team continues to grow and has attracted survivors from all walks of life.
“We meet people from all over,” said Millard. “It’s really cool.”
In fact, not all members compete, which Millard said is OK.
Anyone interested in learning more about the Mammoglams can email the team captain at bcscaptain@gmail.com or call In The Pink at 904-372-0029.
