2023 Pink Paddle and flower ceremony.

Many paddlers gathered for our final paddle of the sixteenth season to promote October's breast cancer awareness. We also held a flower ceremony remembering those who no longer paddle with us and 'closed the eyes' of our 'dragons' for the winter. Both dragon boats, our V6 outrigger canoe and the support boat were ... More

Event 4 Harry’s Heroes Solstice paddle.

In the past Paddlers for Life Windermere participated in a solstice paddle, for human powered craft, the the 10.5 mile length of Windermere. More recently we have arranged a weekend event to paddle to the southern end of Windermere and back with an overnight stay at the YMCA. This year we used this solstice ... More

2023 ‘dotting the eyes’ ceremony.

Paddlers gathered for this traditional ceremony where the eyes of the dragon boat heads are painted with a dot of paint to represent the eyes opening. This is considered to awaken the spirit of the dragons and gain their protection. We like to invite members and supporters of our team to perform this task acknowledging ... More

Sixteenth season begins.

Paddlers for Life Windermere finally got to paddle our dragon boats as our sixteenth season of paddling on Windermere begins. We had prepared the boats and pontoon and trained new members but high water levels and low water temperatures delayed the beginning of our sixteenth paddling season. Our first paddle ... More

Paddlers for Life Windermere CIO workshop.

Some paddlers assembled at Ambleside Parish Centre to relaunch the charity under its new Charitable Incorporated Organisation registration. Workshop participants. It was an opportunity to look at the history and origins of our dragon boat team. Louisa started with the theme of the 'dragon' and what it means in ... More

Silverdale Coffee Morning fundraiser for Paddlers for Life Windermere.

A huge 'Thank You' to everyone who visited our Coffee Morning fund raiser in the Gaskell Memorial Hall in Silverdale. As always, the residents of Silverdale were very generous with their time and support. Many friends of Paddlers for Life in Silverdale helped with stalls and refreshments and the community came out in ... More

South Lakes paddlers walk.

A group of paddlers got together for a six mile walk in the South Lakes near Kendal. We were lucky to have dry and mild conditions with the sun trying to break through high cloud. We gathered at Sizergh to walk through their park and then through Brigsteer Woods eventually up onto Scout Scar before returning through ... More

Season 2022 sort out!

Paddler volunteers gathered for some end of season tasks. The garage needed a tidy-up, the pontoon needed dismantling and cleaning and the V6 outrigger prepared for the winter off season. The weather forecast was promising... ... but recent rainfall created a problem. The high lake level had flooded the ... More

Our 2022 paddling season ends with flowers.

Our plans for a 'pink paddle', raising breast cancer awareness, were cancelled due to forecast rain and wind gusts. October is breast cancer awareness month. Nevertheless, some paddlers gathered for a flower ceremony, and to close the eyes of our three dragon boat heads. Paddlers reflect on family, friends and ... More

An Aloha Experience: Paddlers for Life Windermere at the World Sprint Championships (IVFWS)

Paddlers for Life Windermere at the GB Outrigger Association 2022 International Va’a Federation World Sprint Championships (IVFWS), 7-16 August 2022, Dorney Lake, Windsor, Great Britain. Since Paddlers for Life breast cancer dragon boat team have an outrigger canoe (OC6), we have been enjoying the new challenge ... More