The evening before the Orlando International Dragon Boat Festival, members from Women Playing For T.I.M.E. and Warriors On Water -- Orlando’s first Pink Dragon Boat Team -- and Canadians Abreast -- Canada’s Pink Dragon Boat racing team -- were invited by Walt Disney World/EPCOT and Canadian RetailerTABI to a special reception to unite two countries in support of Breast Cancer Survivors andPink Dragon Boat racing. What a magical night it was! For many, it will remain a special memory they will never forget.

On Saturday, October 17th it was Race Day! Women Playing For T.I.M.E. volunteers arrived in the dark at 6:30 a.m. to set up tents and get organized for the day. They were an amazing team of volunteers. At 8 a.m., two of Women Playing For T.I.M.E.'s support teams -- Supporters of TIME and Orlando Rowing Club's T.I.M.E. to scORCh -- were among the first to race. As Warriors On Water queued up for their first race, the momentum and excitement was off the charts! Very few in the crowd could contain their emotions as the team took their seats in the Dragon Boat. From start to finish, friends and family, along with many supporters, screamed, cheered, laughed and cried.

The excitement and momentum continued throughout the day, and later that afternoon at the awards ceremony, theWPFT Supporter Team received a pleasant surprise -- the team won team medals! The medals were given to team member Lynn Milano Calkin, a breast cancer survivor who is undergoing additional treatment.

In their fist race of the day, Warriors On Water placed second and in their third race, they crossed the finish line first, beating out two other very experienced Pink Dragon Boat teams. Although winning this race was very exciting for their team, this Dragon Boat race signified so much more. While being treated for breast cancer, you learn to "slay the dragon." As a survivor, you learn to "ride a dragon." At this race, Warriors On Water enjoyed every moment of the ride!

And just when you thought this story couldn't get any better, there was a bit of magic underway at the races that would transform a vision and dream into reality. Amid all the excitement and momentum of the day, executives from Women Playing For T.I.M.E., Great White North and Orlando Health Foundation were seeking a way to keep one of those Dragon Boats here in Central Florida so that Warriors On Water and other Dragon Boat teams will have a boat to practice on.

On Sunday, October 18, volunteers from Women Playing For T.I.M.E. and team members from Warriors On Water gathered at the Orlando Rowing Club to witness the arrival of a Dragon Boat that was delivered to the Orlando Rowing Club from Great White North, on behalf of Women Playing For T.I.M.E. and Orlando Health Foundation. The Dragon Boat was accepted by the Orlando Rowing Club, which will serve as the new home for the Women Playing For T.I.M.E. Dragon Boat!