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The Launching of Muriel's Spirit

Our past-president, Colleen Cross, had a dream. It was that BUST'N LOOSE would purchase their own boat. For years the team did various fund raising events to achieve this goal and 2007 was the year that our efforts would pay off. The initial deal to purchase a Millennium was already in motion when shazam the bubble burst and dipped us into the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Mrs. Muriel Needham, a true angel, bequeathed a dragon boat with ropes, a head and tail, a steering oar and paddles, a drum seat and drum for our team. Mrs. Needham, 93 years young, spent her last years sitting with her daughter on the docks watching ‘her girls’ learn the art of dragonboating.  Because her daughter Donna had joined our sorority of breast cancer survivors, she found comfort in knowing that there was still a lot of life in all of us.  Donna, along with her brother Jack carried out their Mother’s dying wishes and purchased the finest piece of craftsmanship the Okanagan has ever seen.

In recognition of this wonderful gift and in honor of one great lady, our boat was christened Muriel’s Spirit. A memorable celebration and christening ceremony was performed by Reverend Baldeo on the shores of the great Okanagan; although he has been ministering for many years, this was his first boat christening. It was a sacred event for us all.

We will be forever grateful to Mrs. Needham for this incredible contribution. It is our promise that the boat will always be accessible to every age, culture and walk of life as we support our paddling sisters and their families in times of need as we strive to achieve our paddling goals in an atmosphere that is inclusive and compassionate.