With thousands of election signs currently covering roadside boulevards, vacant lots and private yards in municipal election races around the province, one candidate in Cranbrook thinks he has a better idea.

Don’t use signs.

Instead of signs, Gerry Warner, one of 14 candidates seeking a seat on Cranbrook City Council, donated $150 to the Abreast in the Rockies Dragon Boat Association which raises money for breast cancer awareness and shows how women with breast cancer can live active and fulfilling lives.

“I know I’m taking a political risk doing this but when my campaign manager suggested doing this I quickly agreed,” says Warner. “Signs are great for name identification but they’re also messy and a source of visual pollution and this often continues long after the election.”

As a reporter and columnist covering Cranbrook politics for 14 years, Warner says he already has high name identification in the community, which puts him in a unique position to do something different.

“I well understand why so many candidates use signs, especially if they haven’t sought office before. But in my case, my sign budget is going to a group of brave women that I’ve reported on before and long admired.”

The Abreast in the Rockies team was formed locally in 2006 after members became aware of a study done by UBC researcher Dr. Don McKenzie, a sports medicine physician and an exercise physiologist. Prior to McKenzie’s research, breast cancer survivors had been advised to restrict activities involving the upper body. But McKenzie’s work showed that strenuous, repetitive, upper body exercise actually helped women dealing with breast cancer and since then breast cancer survivor teams have sprung up in cities across Canada and around the world.

Made up of breast cancer survivors and supporters from women in their 30s to those over 70, the Abreast in the Rockies Dragon Boat Team works out at the gym, practices at the Cranbrook Rec Plex Pool and paddles at Wasa and Moyie Lakes. Team member Sandy Zeznik says the team appreciates the donation and may spend the money on training programs and to support the “A Clear View” digital mammogram campaign. The team last competed in Lethbridge and Victoria bringing home first and third medals.

The team also does fund-raising for local cancer projects and raised $27,000 to help purchase a sentinel node biopsy probe. It also raised money for furnishings in the oncology unit at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital.

Dragon boat racing helps members to keep fit, offers hope for survival and recovery and provides opportunities to raise breast cancer awareness, says Zeznik. “It’s also a source of fun and camaraderie for team members.

“And we’re always looking for breast cancer survivors to join our team and supporters are welcome to find out about us and about joining the team,” she said.

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