Women form a strong connection through dragon boating after battling life-changing diagnoses
PITTSBURGH —
A remarkable group of women in Pittsburgh has come together through the sport of dragon boating, not just for their passion for the activity but also due to their shared journeys of confronting life-altering diagnoses.
During summer evenings along the Allegheny River, Mary Radacosky and her fellow paddlers immerse themselves in the sport, drawing strength and camaraderie from their experiences. Radacosky holds the role of director of operations and assistant coach for the Steel City Dragons.
“A lot of times you feel an urge to scream when life pressures you. Instead of doing that, you hop into the boat and work hard,” Radacosky expressed.
Whether it’s raining or sunny, the team is committed to training together.
“There are times when we train in 95-degree heat with high humidity, and other times when we’re out in 47-degree weather with rain pouring down. Water drips in your eyes while you paddle,” Radacosky noted.
Radacosky began paddling four years ago.
“Having lived in Pittsburgh my entire life, I felt we weren’t utilizing our waterways as much as we could. It was a fantastic opportunity to be out on the water,” she said.
However, it wasn’t the stunning rivers or a passion for fitness that brought Radacosky and her teammates to the Steel City Dragons; it was the reality of battling cancer.
“When I first learned of my diagnosis, I told my kids, ‘Don’t worry, this isn’t going to defeat me.’ At that moment, I had no idea what I was facing or the journey that lay ahead,” Radacosky recollected, having received her diagnosis following a routine mammogram.
“I felt perfectly fine, but then I was called back for further imaging,” she explained.
After undergoing several biopsies, Radacosky was able to clearly communicate her priorities to her surgeon.
“I walked into the appointment and told her two things: First, I’m entering the third trimester of my life, and I need you to help me get through it. I was 61 at that time,” she said.
“Second, my first grandchild is due in Seattle in six months, so let’s do whatever is necessary to ensure I can be there,” Radacosky added.
In October 2022, she underwent a lumpectomy, a surgical procedure that significantly changed breast cancer treatment thanks to groundbreaking clinical trials started in the 1970s by Dr. Bernard Fisher in Pittsburgh.
“He has impacted countless lives. Had I been treated 30 years ago, I would have faced a radical mastectomy, which would have left me with major limitations, including being unable to lift anything over 10 pounds for the rest of my life,” Radacosky reflected.
Six months later, she joyfully met her first grandchild in Seattle, lifting the infant for the very first time.
Shortly after her visit, she returned to Pittsburgh, reuniting with her dragon boating family. This includes the “Pittsburgh Unity” team exclusively for cancer survivors and the “Pink Steel” team representing breast cancer survivors and those currently in treatment. Additionally, there’s a mixed-gender team.
“Unless someone has faced a cancer diagnosis themselves, they truly cannot understand what it entails,” Radacosky said.
In these dragon boats, members share not just paddles but also bonds of resilience.
“This is the best support group that isn’t a traditional support group that I’ve ever been a part of,” praised Naomi Herman, a long-time member of the Steel City Dragons.
At 81 years old, Herman has been paddling for 18 years, a pursuit she began following her own breast cancer diagnosis.
“Being part of this community is truly incredible. We also serve as role models, not just for each other but for our families. I have a large family with 18 grandchildren, making this a win-win situation. Sure, you get sore and must learn the strokes, but it presents a wonderful opportunity,” Herman shared.
The connections fostered by the team extend well beyond Pittsburgh. In August, Radacosky participated with a team from Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival, where they proudly earned a gold medal.
That same weekend, fellow Steel City Dragons member Sonia “Crash” Rogers competed in the International Breast Cancer Paddler’s Commission Festival held in the French Alps.
“It’s like the Olympics for breast cancer survivors,” Rogers remarked. “The races feature six to eight boats competing at the same time.”
Together, these resilient survivors celebrate their victories on the water, while also nurturing hope for positive outcomes after every MRI or mammogram.
“You always feel like that shadow is lurking, just waiting to tap you again,” Radacosky confessed.
This fear was not unknown to her prior to her diagnosis. Her close friend Kathy fought a ten-year battle with breast cancer, ultimately passing away in 2008 at just 46 years of age.
“She would tell me, ‘Keep fighting. Don’t let it win, Mare,’” Radacosky recounted.
“Kathy was an incredibly determined and spirited woman. Had she survived, I believe she would have introduced me to this sport. But…” Radacosky trailed off, shaking her head in remembrance.
Now 65 years old, Radacosky recently achieved another significant milestone: celebrating four years as a breast cancer survivor.
