Good Luck June!

This month we are featuring one of our amazing volunteers, JUNE PEDERSEN. June, a former nurse, is a long- time Hudson resident and a valuable, hardworking member of our library staff.

At a very young 85, June is also an active member of the West Island Dragons, which is part of a larger organization of Breast Cancer Survivors (BCS) who race dragon boats. She has been a paddler since 2003.

The BCS movement started in Vancouver in 1996 when a sports medicine doctor, Don McKenzie, wanted to prove that upper body exercise might prevent lymphoedema, a swelling of the arms that sometimes occurs after breast surgery. Of the original 26 women who took part, several are still around to give invaluable aid to countries that wish to hold the International Racing Festivals. The first was held in Vancouver in 2005 – 68 teams; Australia in 2007 – 69 teams; Peterborough, Ontario in 2010 – 69 teams; and Sarasota, Florida in 2014 – 102 teams. June says she has been fortunate enough to have been to all of them.

This year the competition is in Florence, Italy from July 4th to 8th. There will be more than 120 teams, each consisting of 22 Survivors in a boat – 20 paddlers, one steersperson and one drummer. This tournament will have the added challenge of the heat in July.

June serves as a wonderful role model to all who are battling any disease and to all who think of age as just a state of mind!! We at the War Memorial Library wish June only the very best on this exciting adventure.