When one of Auckland's most famous dragon boat racing teams, the Pink Dragons, were on the brink of extinction, they were saved by a group of 17 new recruits.
The problem was, these unsuspecting women, mostly unfit, had no idea what they'd got themselves into.
Most had never stepped foot in a boat before or even held a paddle - and a new film 'The Pinkies Are Back' follows the story of how they overcame the challenges to rebuild the inspiring team made up entirely of breast cancer survivors.
Dragon boat paddling by breast cancer survivors dates back to1996 when a sports medicine physician launched the dragon boat team 'Abreast' to prove that repetitive upper-body exercise in women treated for breast cancer could avoid lymphoedema.
The original Pink Dragons boat racing team, made up of women aged between 30 and 70, had competed successfully for over 15 years.
But when only seven core members remained they needed to rebuild.
Team captain Annemarie Stevens and her coach, Sooupu Perese, had four months to get every one race-ready.
"It was no mean feat. I did not think some of the ladies were going to last when they rocked up to the first training and could not hold a paddle, but they certainly proved me wrong," Stevens said.
"The ladies inner strength came out and the new members discovered the competitive edge they never knew they had, and they are soon become addicted to this newfound love of dragon boating.
"I am so proud of all of the ladies and what they have achieved out on the water and the support and friendships that have grown from this team."
Annemarie Stevens and producer/director Lisa Burd. Photo / Supplied
One of the longest-serving 'Pinkies', having joined the team just months after arriving in Auckland from the UK in 2005, Chris Johnson, said it was a special feeling re-living the journey on screen.
"We were so thrilled when so many people got in touch to become paddlers and the Pink Dragons could race again. We have come so far as a team... It was so amazing to watch the film myself and see how far we have come. We hope viewers enjoy watching our journey," Stevens said.
Taranaki producer and director Lisa Burd first thought up the feature film after taking up dragon boat racing herself.
And after three years in the making, despite complications caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the film hit New Zealand cinemas on Thursday.
"These women are an absolute laugh. After I met them, I knew I had to make a film about them," Burd said. "They are not your typical dragon boat team and that is what makes their journey so inspirational.
"They are larger than life characters and they know how to have a good time but when they are on the water, they mean business. It was the perfect combination to make a feature film."
