A TEAM of breast cancer survivors have been chosen to take part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Royal Pageant – a spectacular 1,000-vessel flotilla on the Thames in London.

The women are part of the Paddlers for Life Breast Cancer Dragon Boat team, which is based at Low Wood Bay, on the shore of Windermere.

The team, which consists of cancer survivors from the region, has been specially chosen from around 3,000 applicants to be part of the spectacle on Sunday, June 3.

Their two Dragon Boats will join a plethora of vessels including Dutch barges, steam boats and rowing boats on a route that will take them under 14 bridges on the Thames.

The first boat ‘Artemis Diana’ will be crewed by paddlers from Windermere.

The second boat ‘Lucy at Low Wood’ will be carrying an international crew of breast cancer survivors who will be representing the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission (IBCPC).

The paddlers will be guided along the arduous 12-mile course by master helm Paul Brown, the manager at Low Wood Bay Watersports Centre and Marina.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will also be travelling among the flotilla on a specially decorated tourist cruiser.

Sue Cogley, chair of Paddlers for Life, said: “We are absolutely delighted with the news.

“We are especially pleased to be representing South Lakeland and proud to be promoting the message of living well after cancer.

“It’s great that our two dragon boats will be attending. Crew members are travelling from Canada, Australia, USA, Malaysia and Europe to take part.

“This is a hugely ambitious project for us and it is gathering momentum day by day.”

The pageant will be the centrepiece of the four-day weekend’s diamond anniversary celebrations.

The two paddle boats will join the Windermere cruise vessel “Queen of the Lake” which will also be joining the flotilla.

Anyone who would like to get involved in Paddlers for Life, or who would like to offer sponsorship or donations, can find out more at their website www.paddlersforlife.co.uk.