I have been a prostate cancer patient for over 25 years and have made something of a career of it. I was a research scientist who studied amphibians before having surgery, radiation, and then hormone therapy to control my cancer. I subsequently shifted my research over to developing ways to help prostate cancer patients manage the side effects of their treatments. In the last twenty years I have been privileged to collaborator with dozens of MD and PhD researchers from around the world on ways to improve the quality of life of men diagnosed with and treated for prostate cancer.
 
All of our collaborative work, plus that of many others, has shown that the best thing prostate cancer patients can do to have a good and long life is to stay physically fit. In that regard, I was pleased to have helped start the “Butts in a Boat” prostate cancer team. Of all the things I have done related to prostate cancer, being part of the Butts has been the flat-out most rewarding. The greatest friendships that I’ve had in my whole life have come from the guys on the team with me. Thank you all!

• Retired Airline Captain since 2002 – CPAir/CAIL, ANA, Asiana & Cathay Pacific.

• Rapidly rising PSA led to Advanced Prostate Cancer diagnosis late 2015.

• Prostatectomy (robotic) early 2016.

During my recovery from surgery and search for additional information, I heard of an Abreast in a Boat (ABIB) Dragon Boat organization that was comprised of women diagnosed with breast cancer.  That summer 8 years ago, an open challenge was issued by ABIB to those men diagnosed with prostate cancer to a Dragon Boat race to be held during one of the regattas on False Creek.

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Under the leadership and direction of Vince Schiralli and Dr. Richard Wassersug, we answered the challenge, formed a team of 20 paddlers - Butts in a Boat - and trained with a purpose … not so much to beat the ABIB women, but to prove to ourselves that cancer need not limit our capabilities.

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As a proud member of the Butts Dragon Boat team, I am most grateful for the support and friendship so evident amongst our members.  I am currently recovering from hip revision surgery and have reluctantly removed myself from active paddling, but the genuine concern and camaraderie exhibited by my fellow Butts does indeed lift the spirit.

I’m a strong believer in the benefits of social interaction and exercise. I also have a love for on the water sports. After more than 50 years sailing my own boat, I had the pleasure of joining the Butts in a Boat team for two seasons.

At the young age of 84, I finally hung up my paddle but I am fully committed to staying involved in shore side activities such as exercise and supporting the guys.

So, two months after surgery for Prostate Cancer in 2017, I met a bunch of fellow cancer patients exercising at Creekside and was quickly drafted into the Butts in a Boat Dragon Boat team. 

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In my first race with the Butts, we won a medal and I have never looked back. My experience exercising and paddling with the Butts has been joyful and rewarding. We have become great friends for life. I truly believe my recovery from cancer has been has been greatly assisted by the friendship and support I have received from my fellow Butts.

I am one of the original Butts and still think of myself as one. Joining the team and getting to meet all the great people and talking about all our different challenges helped me through a difficult time. If it wasn’t for the travel between Abbotsford and Vancouver I’d still be paddling.