Lagan Dragons Founder and Winner of the Electric Ireland Game Changer Award
Joanne Rock was the winner of the inaugural Electric Ireland Game Changer award at the recent Belfast Telegraph Sports Awards. The Game Changer award, a brand-new addition to Belfast Telegraph’s event, aims to recognise an individual woman who has made a huge impact on the Northern Ireland sporting landscape in the past year, making it better and stronger for females.
Introducing the Electric Ireland Game Changer Award Winner: Joanne Rock
It is difficult not to get goose bumps when listening to Joanne Rock, the inspirational founder of Belfast’s Lagan Dragons. Lagan Dragons is Northern Ireland’s first ever Dragon Boat Racing team, set up by Joanne in September 2015 to support breast cancer survivors and their families.
“It means so much to us that what we do is recognised,” said Joanne when speaking about the award on BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster show. “Dragon boating is the second fastest growing sports team in the world.”
Joanne can be proud of the fact that the club is racking up the awards after being named Charity of the Year and winning the Healthy Living category at the World Health Organisation Healthy City Awards.
Lagan Dragons – How it All Began
Through a chance conversation with some of the Plurbabelle Boaters in Dublin, Joanne was inspired to start the first ever Dragon Boating team in Northern Ireland.
“I had never heard about Dragon Boat racing before, so I went down to Dublin to find out a bit more about this breast cancer survivor team,” explained Joanne. “I’d been diagnosed with breast cancer just over 10 years ago. The diagnosis is tough but when treatment finishes that’s the toughest time; when you’re left to your own devices. Physically and mentally you’re in a tough spot and exercise really helped my mind and body.”
Joanne admitted to finding it difficult to paddle boat at first, but then explained how she soon grew to love and bring the sport to Northern Ireland.
“I paddled with the Plurabelles along the Grand Canal in Dublin. It was one of the toughest things I’d done, but I absolutely loved it. I then wondered would the women in Northern Ireland enjoy this too, and we now have a membership of nearly 60 who paddle on the River Lagan every Saturday morning. It means so much to us – it helps our minds and bodies be so much more positive and to live well.”
The Dragon Spirit
Joanne and the girls row on the River Lagan almost every Saturday, so it is not surprising to hear of the bond that has been built up over the years.
“It really works when we all work together – that really shifts the boat down the river. We giggle and laugh a lot, but we train hard as well. It’s a lot of fun.
“We have been going for a couple of years now and the friendships on the team are second to none, and the level of support the ladies offer to each other through some really tough times. There’s a real bond between us all.”
Lagan Dragons Take on the World
Since starting Lagan Dragons, Joanne has competed in the 2014 Dragon Boat Festival in the USA, where she joined other survivors as a member of the Ireland Dragon Boating team.
"Paddling with Team Ireland in Sarasota, I joined over 3,000 men and women who were living with (and beyond) a breast cancer diagnosis. It was truly an incredible experience," said Joanne.
This July, Joanne and the whole team are going to Florence to participate in the International Breast Cancer Commission Participatory Festival. Over 4,000 people will be there, and this will be the first time a team from Northern Ireland will participate and compete in the race.
In preparation for Florence, the team will no doubt be taking to the water even more over the coming months. Find out more about Lagan Dragons and support the team whatever way you can.
Are you keen to be Game Changer in your local community? Find out how you can be a game changer for your local football club with Club Game Changers.
