Rose ceremony honours survivors and friends lost to cancer

By Herald on June 28, 2021.

Susie Bettger, team captain of the Abreast Of Bridge Dragon Boat team, scatter rose petals in the water as part of the Rose Petal Ceremony Saturday afternoon at Henderson Lake. Herald photo by Dale Woodard

Dale Woodard – Lethbridge Herald

The COVID-19 pandemic has docked the Dragon Boat Festival for the second straight year.

However, it hasn’t stopped a dragon boat team from paying tribute to friends and teammates who’ve lost their lives to breast cancer.

On Saturday, the Abreast Of Bridge Dragon Boat team held their Rose Petal Ceremony on the shore of Henderson Lake, an annual tradition of the Lethbridge Dragon Boat Festival to remember teammates lost to cancer.

The ceremony also marked the 20th anniversary of the festival.

“During the annual Lethbridge Rotary Dragonboat Festival we have our C Cup Race, which is a race between all of the women’s cancer survivor teams, near and far,” said Abreast Of Bridge team member Janae Nahirney. “We all race against each other and it’s a great and empowering time. We meet up after the race on the peninsula for the Rose Petal Ceremony. The Rose Ceremony is for all of the women’s cancer survivor team members who have roses and we toss them into the water. This symbolizes all of the lives that were lost to cancer, all of our sisters and family members, all of the lives which have been touched by cancer. It raises awareness for cancer, but it’s really that moment for us to recognize.”

Due to the pandemic, this year’s Rose Petal Ceremony was minus the dragon boats.

“The Coulee Cruisers have been kind enough to help organize this event, just a private event with our team members and their team,” said Nahirney. “Our team will be on the peninsula and we’ll be listening to our emcee giving some information about the team and the Rose Ceremony and we’ll continue on with that tradition of putting the roses in the water.”

Abreast Of Bridge team captain Susie Bettger said the Rose Petal Ceremony delivers a message of strength in addition to honoring lost teammates.

“Our Rose Ceremony is something we’ve done to commemorate the women who have suffered breast cancer and all types of cancer, those of our team members who have passed on, and to remember them and remember that we are strong no matter what comes our way and that we can accomplish anything.”

On Saturday, the Abreast Of Bridge team members walked over the bridge leading to peninsula under pairs of paddles hoisted aloft by ceremony attendees.

The team members lined up across the peninsula for a speech, while people on the shore and on the bridge held and waved pink roses

On the water under the bridge, another pair of kayakers sat in their boats also waving pink roses.

As Bette Midler’s “The Rose” played, the team members approached the water, tossing in the rose petals in memory of those lost to cancer.

“It’s actually an overwhelming feeling to walk out here and remember what we’ve all been through and remember all these ceremonies we’ve had in the past, just that feeling of connection and strength among all of the women and cancer survivors,” said Nahirney. “It’s a very powerful feeling.”

After being separated over the past year due to COVID, Bettger said it’s good to see team members face-to-face once again.

“Last year we had a tiny ceremony over by the Japanese Gardens where there might have been only four of us,” she said. “But this year it was great to see people and to be out and remember those who we have lost or are suffering. It was fantastic. It was a beautiful view to see the boats in the water. It’s a great feeling and we’re excited we can hopefully participate next year.”

Bettger also noted the crowd on the shore, the bridge and the kayakers nearby who also paid their respects at Saturday’s ceremony

“It lets us know we’re all in this together and if it’s one person or 12 or 3,000 that we are all here for each other regardless of the situation or the circumstances. It’s nice to see the people who stopped and clapped and wept with us and cheered with us. It’s a great feeling.”

Bettger said it’ll also be a great to finally get back on the water and get paddling with her teammates after two years away due to the pandemic.

“We might only paddle with six team (members) or if we’re able to paddle with 22, we’ll paddle with 22. We’re ready and exited.”