Breast cancer survivors find strength in La Crosse Mississippi Sisters
January 30, 2026
| By La Crosse Community Foundation |
La Crosse Mississippi Sisters (l-r) Lisa Mellen, Michele Thorman, and Sandy Gonia respond to the “POWER!” command and leave it all on the water at the end of the race. (Photo credit Ashley Dorn)
On the waters of the Black River in La Crosse each summer you’ll find a boat with a fierce-looking pink dragonhead, its paddlers rising in unison. They are the La Crosse Mississippi Sisters — a thriving sisterhood of breast-cancer survivors who’ve discovered that shared effort, in training and in life, builds its own kind of strength. Into that circle steps physical-therapist-turned-paddler Michele Thorman, who since the team’s 2013 inception has not only helped propel the dragon boat but has drawn on her clinical skills to lead the sisterhood’s off-season training.
Paddling locally and internationally, how do the relationships you’ve built on and off the water strengthen healing and resilience for team members?
When one hears the words “you have cancer,” it rocks your world. While each of us has known the love of family and friends and kind gestures of support, there is a special grace that is felt from being enveloped in a circle of care from others who have experienced the cancer recovery journey. We step into the dragon boat having navigated our own “rough waters” of cancer treatments, fears, and uncertainty.
Each woman contributes her own power of body and spirit to move a 2500-pound dragon boat from a dead start to speed across the racecourse. But it is our synchrony in paddling and belief that we are stronger together that determines our success. Our abiding team relationships fortify us with resilience to meet today’s challenges and whatever our futures may bring. It is our hope that other cancer survivors may experience this circle of care, too.
How does the team collaborate with other groups to create connections, raise awareness, or inspire others facing cancer?
The La Crosse Mississippi Sisters have a strong value for sharing with our community that cancer survivorship can be active and vital. If you’ve ever witnessed 20 women vigorously paddling our mighty dragon boat on the Black River, then you know!
When we appear at community events, all wearing our racing jerseys, people take note. Our presence testifies to the existence of another side to cancer at events like Steppin Out in Pink, Beer by Bike Brigade Bingo, League of the Ridiculous, Milwaukee Burger Company’s “Burgers for Boobs” and Winghaven Pizza Farm’s Slices of Hope. You can find us bartending at Oktoberfest or “paddling” the dragon boat in the Maple Leaf Parade. We engage college students who ask to hear our stories and learn more about early detection and cancer recovery. Our connections extend well beyond our local community as we also support other regional and international dragon boat teams at their events.
What motivates you to continue this work?
Given that one in eight women will experience breast cancer in their lifetime, there are few families that have not been touched by this disease. The La Crosse Mississippi Sisters personify the power of an inclusive community of support.
When our sister, Anita Lilla, passed away from metastatic cancer, we loved her to the end as we escorted her casket from the church under a paddle salute.
A young woman who lost her mother to breast cancer prior to being diagnosed herself in her 30s, emotionally shared that she didn’t realize there was another side to cancer until experiencing the spirit of dragon boating.
When walking amidst the throngs of happy revelers in the Maple Leaf Parade, there is always that person whose eyes look back and silently say, “I get it.” Breast cancer has touched me/our family, too.”
The La Crosse Mississippi Sisters are a community of hope. We find joy in sharing that spirit of hope and belonging with others.