Frequently Asked Questions
MBT means "Missabittatitti".
The beloved team name originated from an “end of treatment” fancy dress party for our previous coach, a huge fan of the TV Show Survivor.
As part of the celebration, one of the "tribes" at the party branded themselves Missabittatitti, and the name has proudly stuck.
Absolutely nothing!
Missabittatitti, or MBT as it is also known, is Dragons Abreast Brisbane.
Our team is a legally incorporated as Dragons Abreast Brisbane Incorporated, however, our dragon boat team can be referred to as both.
Missabittatitti is a competitive dragon boat racing crew.
We race at:
Local dragon boat regattas
Dragon Boat Queensland sanctioned regattas
Dragons Abreast sanctioned regattas
The Australian Dragon Boat Championships (AusChamps)
International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission regattas
Club Crew World Championships (CCWC)
Yes!
Men get breast cancer too! And they are very welcome to paddle with us.
Men are also welcome to join our supporters Pink Connections if they qualify as a member. You can read more about Pink Connections here.
Unfortunately, membership to MBT requires that you are a breast cancer survivor.
You may qualify to join our supporter group, Pink Connections.
If not, we are affiliated with, and train with, Brisbane River Dragons.
Brisbane River Dragons offers experienced sports/competitive paddling plus social, novice and semi-competitive paddling. They are accepting new members.
Contact Brisbane River Dragons about attending introductory sessions.
Yes! There are many ways to support MBT!
Attend one of the fundraising events we hold throughout the year. You can view these in our events section.
Follow us on social media. By following our journey on Facebook and Instagram, and sharing this with your family and friends, you are helping us spread the message of breast cancer awareness.
Not at all.
Dragons Abreast Brisbane welcomes breast cancer survivors of all ages, gender, and backgrounds.
Age is not a barrier to becoming a dragon boat paddler and just like being diagnosed with breast cancer, our dragon boat team is made up of Brisbane residents from all warps of life.
And we would love men to join us too. Because men get breast cancer too.
Because of the challenging nature of dragon boat racing, and the fact that it is a water sport, we do not accept members until they have completed their treatment.
We do encourage prospective members who are currently undergoing treatment to attend our monthly “Breakfast in the Park” to talk with our members and learn more about us.
Contact us for more information about when our next breakfast is.
Is dragon boat racing a difficult sport?
Dragon boat racing is known as a strenuous sport. But it is also a team sport. And as a breast cancer survivor dragon boat club we welcome women (and men) of all ages and abilities.
We provide training and coaching to learn paddling technique. And each member can decide whether they want to paddle socially on the weekend or challenge themselves by attending weekday training sessions.
Participating in dragon boat paddling has been proven to have many health benefits for breast cancer survivors.
- Develop greater cardiovascular fitness
- Improve muscular strength and endurance
- Combat fatigue common after treatment
- Rebuild weak muscles
- Reduce levels of cancer-related fatigue
Dr MacKenzie, a doctor who pioneered dragon boat racing for breast cancer patients, and created what is now an international movement, was very vocal about the benefits of paddling.
Yes! Medical research shows breast cancer survivors benefit in many ways from dragon boat paddling.
In 1996 Dr Donald C. McKenzie, a Canadian sports medicine specialist ran a pilot program “Abreast in a Boat”.
Dr McKenzie aimed to challenge the traditional medical thinking that breast cancer survivors should avoid strenuous physical activity.
His program confirmed that unique post-treatment complications faced by breast cancer survivors, such as lymphoedema, could be improved by dragon boat racing.
Dr McKenzie’s research has been supported by other, more recent medical research which has shown beyond a doubt that breast cancer survivors who participate in dragon boat racing enjoy an improved health-related quality of life.
Still have a question?
If you cannot find the answer to your query about our breast cancer dragon boat team, please contact us.
Join Us
If you want to GET FIT! MAKE NEW FRIENDS! and HAVE FUN!
Then Dragon Boating just might be the sport for YOU!