At almost 93 years young, Delta’s Dorothy Sample is living proof that it is indeed possible to be very fit and active after going through breast cancer.
In 2008 Sample received the diagnosis and went through a lumpectomy and radiation.
A year later she moved into the River House on the Deas Slough and one day she noticed a dragon boat down at the dock. The paddlers were all in pink and were members of Abreast In A Boat, the world’s first breast cancer dragon boat team.
By 2011, at age 82, she was a novice on the team.
At first she was a little reluctant to join a group as she had found in the past that politics can play a part, but she quickly found out that this group was refreshingly different. Everyone was so welcoming and encouraging, and there was not any pressure to overdo it. As all the members had breast cancer in common, there was an instant bond, like sisters knowing what it was like dealing with this disease.
Her academic background in physics and mathematics took her to the cancer centre at UBC where she was part of the scientific team performing experiments on cancer treatments using a water tank which mimicked the human body.
After a long hiatus from her career to raise her five children, she upgraded her education to give her the computer skills necessary to work at TRIUMF at UBC, Canada's national particle accelerator and subatomic physics research center.
At age 65 she retired and she and her husband enjoyed travelling the world.
She has always been keen on physical exercise, and was a long-time participant in the Health and Beauty Group. She also has volunteered many hours with the Shopping for Seniors program and with the Delta Police Community Policing Station.
Besides dragon boating, she also travels to New Zealand regularly to see her daughter.
She credits her long and healthy life to genetics, with several family members living well into their 100s. She hops in and out of the boat like a young girl and emphatically states that joining Abreast In A Boat is the best thing she has ever done.
Out of more than 200 international teams, she holds the title of eldest breast cancer dragon boater in the world.
