Phoenix Desert Dragons Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat Team

10/10/2026

After 10 years of coaching the Phoenix Desert Dragons, Melissa Ann has retired and we are beyond thrilled to announce Kristin Kendall as the new coach!

Kristin started paddling with the Phoenix Desert Dragons in August of 2024. She found out about dragon boating from her nurse practitioner. After her first practice, she was hooked on the sport of dragon boating.

In November 2024, she heard about Team USA and decided that she was going to try out for the team. She attended Team USA dragon boat camps, trained on the Concept2 every single day, and continued training with our team.

All of her hard work and perseverance paid off when she was selected to be on Team USA, for the inaugural Breast Cancer Paddler team after only paddling for nine months! The inaugural team won three silver medals and three bronze medals at the World Championships in Germany in July 2025.

Not only was she a Team USA Paddler in her first year, she also became a certified steer in her first year too!

Kristin says, "I feel that joining a dragon boat team has absolutely changed my life for the better. It has helped me with my confidence, it has pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and it has made me a stronger person. I believe my passion for dragon boating allows me to support and guide our team members as they work toward becoming stronger and helping our team grow."

Welcome, Coach Kristin! We are excited to have you!

10/07/2026

We’re proud to be volunteering at Cycle Gear Scottsdale for the Bikers for Bo***es charity event this Saturday. It is a fun charity event where all proceeds go to local breast cancer support groups. Come say hi, join the fun, and help us make a difference for those fighting and surviving breast cancer.

10/02/2026

Stop by our tent in the vendor village to say hello! The Phoenix Desert Dragon paddlers will be attending the 10th Annual Pink Out 5k and would love to share more about our amazing team!

We are the team you never knew you needed until you get out on the water with us!

10/01/2026

Looking to support a good cause for Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Look no more! Our crew is having a pretzel fundraiser! Items are shipped to your house. We receive 50% of all sales!

Get yours today!

Support Melissa and the Phoenix Desert Dragonss' fundraiser – every sale helps us!

09/30/2026

As Breast Cancer Awareness month is just around the corner, you will find us out and about at several community events. Come find us and learn more about our team, how we support physical and social/emotional well being of survivors, and ways we give back to the community!

We hope to see you! 💕

09/28/2026

Some of our crew traveled to San Diego this weekend to participate in the San Diego dragon boat festival. Saturday was 10 man races and Sunday, we blended with our sisters from Team Survivor Sea Dragons Dragon Boat Team to compete in 20 man crew races!

Coming home with some new hardware! 🥈Bling, bling

09/03/2026

The flower ceremony is one of the most moving aspects of the 2026 IBCPC Participatory Dragon Boat Festival, France and many other festivals that honor the breast cancer and the all cancer paddlers.

It is a time of reflection. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the battle that we have all faced. It is a way to celebrate and honor those who have endured and continue to endure all that comes with a cancer diagnosis, and to remember all of those that have gone before us.

If you have never taken the opportunity to pause and listen to the flower ceremony at the festivals you have attended, I invite you to do so. It reminds us that we are not solo paddlers or solo boat of survivors. It’s a reminder that we are not alone and that we are a part of the larger dragon boat community.