Some 91原创 seniors will have a better Christmas this season, thanks to members of the Fort 91原创-based dragonboat racing team.
On Friday, Dec. 11, members of the team dropped off gifts for 22 seniors who belong to a peer outreach group at the 91原创 Lodge residence in 91原创.
Gifts included puzzles, toques, socks, mitts and more, said team member Ruth Bedell.
鈥淚 think we all went over the limit,鈥� she laughed.
鈥淚 know I did.鈥�
Bedell said the team, made up of women 70 and older, with the oldest being 82, just wanted to show support for seniors during a difficult time when many have to remain isolated because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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鈥淭hey鈥檙e all going through the same thing as us,鈥� she observed.
Members of D-Fyance have been unable to practice and are trying to get by with online workouts while they wait for the pandemic to ease.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not paddling,鈥� Bedell said.
鈥淚n Dragonboats you鈥檙e far too close. The whole club has shut down. It鈥檚 very frustrating for all of us.鈥�
鈥楧-Fyance鈥� is believed to be the only competitive Dragonboat crew made up of paddlers in the 70-plus age group in Canada.
It takes its name from the fact that current dragonboat age categories only go to 鈥淐鈥� for 60-plus, and the D鈥橣yance competitors would like to see a 鈥淒鈥� for 70-plus paddlers introduced by the regulators of the sport.
READ ALSO: Dragon boaters paddle home with medals
In 2019, D鈥橣yance beat younger teams to take home a bronze medal from the Pan American Club Crew Championships in Tobago.
Bedell added the team is looking for new paddlers for when the dragonboat teams can return to the water.
Anyone interested is asked to email rbedell@shaw.ca.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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