Julie Anastasia Seat: 9L Position: Rocket

Posted September 29, 2009, 3:18 pm

1. Why is it important to you to be on the Pink Dragon Boat team?

I have always been athletic. I was voted the “Most Outstanding Female Athlete” in 9th grade and played slow pitch softball well into my 20's. In 2004 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I had a double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction on June 28, and then went through radiation and Taxol chemotherapy with a broken left expander (the cancer side). In December, the expander was replaced only to be infected 11 days later. So it had to come out again. I had three surgeries within six months, which was not my plan.... I probably wasn't real good about doing the arm exercises; I would do some, but not a lot.

In 2006, I started doing Bikram yoga (the hot yoga) which helped open my left side some. I also did yoga and worked out at a gym in China during 2006 and into 2007 when I lived abroad. I also participated in the 2007 Breast Cancer 3-Day and walked all 60 miles (along with over 300 miles during training)! I have done yoga and some other exercises using CDs during 2008 and 2009. I am training for the Breast Cancer 3-Day this year and wanted to join the Pink Dragon Boat team as well. I thought it would be memorable to be a part of the beginning team but I did not realize what it would entail. I love participating in anything related to breast cancer and also enjoy meeting fellow breast cancer survivors. I also love how my body is getting more in shape all these years after going through breast cancer.

2. What activities or hobbies do you enjoy?

Walking, reading, having fun with family or friends, going to a beach, traveling, and I love watching football, too. Dragon Boating is getting towards the top of the list as well!

3. If you could have dinner with a famous person, who would it be?

I would enjoy having dinner with just about anyone but Cheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Chrissy Everett or Billie Jean King would be my top choices right now.

4. Who is the person that has had the biggest influence in your life?

There have been many people influential during my life. To name a few, it would be Ms. Lloyd in second grade; Ms Thompson in junior high; my mother having an open house to our friends who needed extra comfort growing up even though she was a single mom raising four kids; Adrienne Engel, my massage therapist who I found in 2004 and she has been a godsend over these past five years. Adrienne also has been working with breast cancer survivors for over 15 years now. She got my scar tissue loose lately (where I had 11 lymph nodes removed and three surgeries) and I can now hold both of my arms over my head equally next to my ears. That was one of my goals in November 2004 when I met Adrienne (one of those things you take for granted before surgery).

5. What would you like the team and WPFT to know about you or those in your life?

I am a very positive person, enjoy life even more now, and can be relied upon as a W.O.W. team member. I will also be volunteering for WPFT after this Breast Cancer 3-Day is over. I love that WPFT keeps the fundraising local and I was impressed when I came to the last board meeting regarding what you do and how much money is raised annually. I was also treated at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, so I have a soft spot for anything that can help them, as well as your support of the Pink Dragon Boat team!