by Robert Washburn

A local dragon boat team distinguished itself in more ways than one earlier this month.

The Survivor Thrivers dragon boat team won international accolades at a major competition in Italy by placing 13 out of 126 teams. The announcement came on the team’s Facebook page on July 9.

But it also met a unique requirement this year, as one of the team members had to be a man who survived breast cancer.

A team of 50 paddlers and supporters went to the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission dragon boat races in Florence. The premier event takes place every four years.

The team, which trains out in Cobourg, was ranked third in Canada and fifth in the world last time it entered the competition in 2014.

The team is made up of women and men who are impacted by cancer. The club sent 22 racers and three spares. The team trains in Cobourg harbour and Trent University in the winter.