A cheerleader. A supporter. A friend. A sister. In her many encounters with cancer, Marci Likens had always been a champion for the cause and a support system for those she loved. Until December 2008, she had always been on the sidelines in the fight against breast cancer.

When life suddenly pushed her to the front lines of the battle, Marci responded in her typical passionate, independent fashion. A self-proclaimed “strong-willed woman,” Marci reacted to the news by thinking she could do everything by herself. And why not? She was used to this method of tackling crises, such as the illness and death of her husband. “This was a mistake,” she admits, looking back.

“It wasn’t the physical part. It was the emotional part you cannot do alone,” she said.

As an active woman, Marci dealt with the physical trauma that came with battling cancer. As she tells about when she found out, her surgeries and her treatment, the memory she highlights is that she had surgery on Friday, went boating with her friends on Saturday and took a five mile hike on Sunday. It was the emotional part that threw Marci for a loop. One of the drugs she took for treatment contributed to her deep depression. “If I could have willed my heart to stop beating, I would have,” she said. She needed an outlet for her emotions and a place where women knew what she was going through.

As an avid golfer, Marci had played in the WPFT Lake Nona golf tournament since its inception in 1993. But, it was perfect timing when in 2009 WPFT became involved with dragon boat racing.

Coined as the “ultimate team sport,”dragon boat racing is rapidly becoming one of the fastest growing group sports in North America and one of the world’s fastest growing water sports. It originated in China more than 2,500 years ago and involves 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steersperson paddling a canoe-style boat decorated at the bow and stern with a dragon’s head and tail.

Marci was invited to paddle with the Warriors on Water “Pink” team and immediately a sisterhood formed. She had a newfound family, all of whom were survivors as well. “There’s such a rush when you are out on the water, paddling in sync,” said Marci, describing her new passion. “And, we have so much fun together. When any of us has a crisis or need, the whole team is there for support. It’s incredible.”

Today, Marci lives life to the fullest, enjoying her passions: travel, golf and dragon boating. Her experiences and victory in her fight against breast cancer have led her to share what she learned with others. “Reach out, use the resources, like WPFT, that are out there,” she said “Don’t do it alone.”