Fundraising Events
We are a team of passionate breast cancer survivors who love sharing our sport of dragon boating with other survivors and with the community as a whole. We know how beneficial paddling with the Spirit Warriors has been in our own physical and emotional recovery and we want this opportunity to be available to any breast cancer survivor who wants to participate. As a non-profit society, fundraising is essential part of what helps keep our team operating and accessible.
Pink Harvest Gala 2025
Recognize and Celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month With Our Team of Survivors
The purpose of the “Pink Harvest” gala was to recognize, celebrate, and support breast cancer survivors in our community. It was the Spirit Warriors’ intention to raise funds to ensure that women diagnosed with breast cancer, regardless of their financial situation, can join our team. The funds raised will also help us properly outfit our brand new team dragon boat.
The gala was a resounding success! A sold-out crowd enjoyed dining, dancing, silent and live auctions. We were supported by family, friends, fellow dragon boaters, and the community at large. Speeches graciously acknowledged our team as, “Inspirational - Forward Thinking - Compassionate - Community Builders”. We really couldn’t have asked for a better evening and thank everyone involved in making it such a success.
CFJC News joined us on the morning of Friday, Oct. 24th as the Spirit Warriors were busy setting up for the next evenings gala. Thanks to Ann, Angie and Lori for representing our team so well in their interview with Dylana Kneeshaw. Their interview can be watched at:
Awareness Events
The Spirit Warriors are ambassadors for our community when it comes to breast cancer awareness and fundraising for cancer research. We participate each year in the CIBC "Run for the Cure" which raises funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. In addition to fundraising, the Spirit Warriors man an informational booth, provide a paddle arch for survivors to pass through, and we have had members of our team serve as guest speakers, including the 2025 “Speaker of Hope”. At the 2025 event, NJ Schmidt of Kamloops was drawn as our raffle basket winner.
The Spirit Warriors have also represented breast cancer survivorship at events such as the Kamloops Blazers hockey team's "Safeway Breast Cancer Night'; Roche Lake Resort's "Lure for a Cure" fishing derby; and Rivershore Ram's "Tops Off for Tatas" charity road event.
The Spirit Warriors aids the Kamloops Breast Cancer Support Group both financially and as facillitators. In addition, we are foundational supporters of the Kamloops Cancer Supportive Care Society and the new Inspire Health coming to Kamloops.
Kamloops Breast Cancer Support Group
While the Spirit Warriors and the Kamloops Breast Cancer Support Group are separate entities, the support group does receive financial assistance from the Spirit Warriors and 3 of the 4 support group facilitators paddle for the team. We were delighted when the following announcement was made at our gala:
“To that end, I bring greetings and heartfelt appreciation from Loveena Chera, CEO and the Board of InspireHealth for all the
support and help always extended by the Spirit Warriors (and the Kamloops) Breast
Cancer Support Group. First, they hope we all have a really great time tonight and sorry they can’t be here with us. So, on behalf of InspireHealth I want to announce that The Kamloops Breast Cancer Support Group are the first community group to be invited to share space and hold their support group meetings in the new InspireHealth community space. This is such an exciting time for Kamloops and area cancer patients and it wouldn’t have been possible without your energy, compassion, enthusiasm and support. You make an incredible difference!”
The Kamloops Breast Cancer Support Group can be contacted through their Facebook page or kamloopsbcsg@gmail.com
Volunteer Opportunities
Have you been recently diagnosed with breast cancer? Do you live in a rural area of the Interior Health Region? TRU’s School of Nursing is requesting volunteers to participate in a six month cancer care navigation and support study. For more information, contact Dr. Melba D’Souza.
The Spirit Warriors Volunteer at the 2025 Santa Claus Parade
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