PINK PHURREE, a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, is Texas' first year–round all breast cancer survivor dragon boat team. 

We are here to demonstrate that there is lots of life after breast cancer diagnosis and/or treatment. 

Our team members range in age from 30’s to the 80’s.  The only limitations we have are those that we’ve placed on ourselves.  We have all decided to truly LOVE, LIVE AND LAUGH!!!!! 

If you are a breast cancer survivor, please join us!!!!

 Why We Do This

• To develop a year round dragon boat team of breast cancer survivors
• To demonstrate that one can lead a full and active lifestyle after diagnosis
• To provide support, camaraderie and encouragement to team members
• To raise awareness of breast cancer
• To honor the memory of those who have passed on

 Who Can Join

• Any breast cancer survivor willing to work hard and play hard
• Any breast cancer survivor willing to commit to regular practices (water or land)
• Any breast cancer survivor willing to commit to participating in regular exercise with the goal of improving physical well-being

How It All Began

PINK PHURREE is a year round dragon boat team of breast cancer survivors.  PINK PHURREE was formed by the original team of the Draggin’ Queens, which participated in the 2005 October Regatta of the Texas Dragon Boat Regatta.  In 2004, Dr. Yang, a radiation oncologist, with Bayshore Medical was riding his bicycle and noticed some unusual activities taking place in the bay in Clear Lake.  He decided to investigate and  found it was the Texas Dragon Boat Regatta.  Upon learning more of this unusual event, he discovered that there were breast cancer survivor teams in Canada.  He thought, why not Texas, as he treats breast cancer survivors.  He teamed up with Bayshore Medical Physical Therapy Department and Dr. Haq to start a team. 

Bayshore Medical created a work out program and then started recruiting survivors for the team.  During the month of September 2005, women from all Houston and the surrounding areas were recruited and began working out at Bayshore.  Most of us have never heard of dragon boating, yet we signed on, sure that it would be a great work out and lots of fun.  That year, we met the amazing Canadians Abreast.  We were in awe!!!!.    Not only were they a ton of fun, but they were incredible on the water.  To this day, they are our inspiration, as most of us, although eager were not convinced that we could really paddle an entire race, without upending the boat, or falling in or something else just as dreadful.  But, here were a team of survivors, who paddled like the pros and were good enough to paddle against non-survivor teams and win.  We aspire to be like them, though our true aspiration is to beat them.

In 2006, we had the opportunity to practice more than once (we did in 2005) and acquire a bit more confidence and our race showed it.  We crossed the finish line first or as I so indelicately put it (“WE WON!!! WE WON!!!! WE WON!!!!) all the while jumping up and down like a fiend.  It was most probably quite unsportsmanlike, but it felt so good to WIN!!!!.  Most survivors will attest to having heard, at some time, a list of all they couldn’t do, and to win at such a physical sport was the most amazing feeling ever.  We could, at that time, imagine how the Canadians felt after each win. 

This win propelled us to fulfill Dr. Yang’s dream of having a year round team and PINK PHURREE was born.  This team of committed and dedicated women wanted a name that would reflect our status as active, inspired, dedicated women.   These women come from all walks of life, from retirees to business owners to attorneys.  We range from 30’s to the late 80’s. Our common goal is to become more physically fit and to clearly demonstrate that one can lead a full and active life after diagnosis

The original team of the Draggin’ Queens