The sport of Dragon Boat racing and the upper body workout it provides has always been beneficial to breast cancer patients. In the year 2000, Don Verhaeghe, an avid dragon boat racer, introduced the sport to the Wallaceburg Breast Cancer Support Group. That same year Don approached Brian Armitage, an executive with the United Way, with the concept of a Dragon Boat Festival. A committee was formed and guided by Don’s vision, expertise, and knowledge of the sport, and the Sydenham Challenge Dragon Boat Festival was born.

The first challenge was to find 22 plus breast cancer survivors. They reached out to breast cancer support groups in Chatham and Sarnia and soon had the required number to make their dream a reality. Their mission is to promote awareness of a quality of life after being diagnosed with breast cancer. In doing so they impart hope and empowerment and show there is life after a breast cancer diagnosis.