About The Silver Lining Foundation
We are the first (and only) all breast cancer survivor dragon boat and outrigger canoe team in Montana
The Silver Lining Sisterhood
The Silver Lining Sisterhood began in the spring of 2015, where a small group of “sisters” began gathering to support each other in the aftermath of breast cancer treatment. A few of us had met during chemo, others were referred to by friends. It evolved very organically. We were brought together by the common experience of being in the trenches and trying to decipher how to move forward after the “battle”– post-surgery, post-chemo, post-radiation, post-the life that we used to know. Our group has grown to over 380 members on our closed FB group, Silver Lining Support Group. We became a 501c3 non-profit organization in 2017, in order to help support and promote our mission. We are a sisterhood that appreciates the value of working together toward a common goal and studies have shown that regular exercise can reduce the rate of recurrence by 40-50%. We practice what we preach. As our member numbers increase, so does our need to move forward with our mission. We appreciate any support that aids in our mission of empowering breast cancer survivors….in mind, body and spirit.
The Mission
The
mission
of
silver lining foundation-montana is to build a strong, supportive community of breast cancer survivors and we are dedicated to empowering individuals through education, physical activity and ongoing research to achieve and maintain wellness of mind, body, and spirit.
Our Vision
Our VISION is to be the SILVER LINING for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer and to create a community of belonging.
How We Roll
Our Monthly Gatherings take place on one Tuesday night each month, from October through April. We bring in a variety of educational speakers to talk about a multitude of topics pertaining to survivorship. These are casual potlucks and a great place to meet new sisters. These are free of charge and open to all.
Location: 119 W Main in the Headwaters Foundation building
Time: 6pm-8pm
Silver Lining Montana Paddlers
Silver Lining Montana Paddlers—closed facebook page, all things related to training and paddling schedules, etc.
Silver Lining Board Of Directors
Members At Large
Stronger Together: Dragon Boat Team
The most enticing aspect of dragon boat might be the social one. You can train, you can be in shape, but the secret to success is really synchronicity: working together as a TEAM. There’s a great camaraderie that develops as a unit.
How Do I Join?
Getting Started
If you want to have fun and you’re willing to get wet, that’s pretty much the prerequisite. And you need to know how to swim!
The Commitment
Silver Lining Racing Team practices from May to late September, two to three times a week. Our team competes in 2-3 regattas per season in both Canada and the US.
Fees
The cost is free for the 1st year paddlers. A minimal annual membership fee will apply to experienced paddlers to cover boat use and other expenses. By implementing a fee, there’s a vested interest since this is a pay-to-play sport. If someone has financial difficulties, we can work with them to make it feasible.
6-Person Outrigger Canoe (OC6)
We began padding OC6's during covid, when we could not be in our dragon boats. This was also the time period when we were introduced to Hawaiian kupuna (elder) Kimokeo Kapahulehua, who has been instrumental in helping to create outrigger clubs throughout the world. The Kimokeo Foundation helps to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture and traditions of the outrigger canoe and we are so grateful for his leadership and vision with the Paddle Palooza event held each July. The outrigger canoe is more than a vessel for paddling--it's a bridge between cultures, a unifier of diverse communities, and a powerful way to perpetuate the aloha spirit through shared connection, respect, and team-building on the water.
We share a fleet of OC-6's with the Montana Canoe Club, which is based in Big Arm on Flathead Lake. In 2026, we will be hosting our 7th Annual Paddle Palooza and ARE Sprint Challenge on Flathead Lake, July 9,10, and 11th. What began in 2019 with just 10 Silver Lining women paddling the length of Flathead Lake in an OC-1 has grown into a powerful cultural gathering--now drawing over 200 paddlers from around the globe that includes sprints and a 25-mile voyage. Together, we honor the waters we paddle, the land and people who came before us, and the shared values of aloha, resilience, and environmental stewardship.
Silver Lining Montana Gym
3x/week, led by our personal trainer, Mike Rankin of Rankin Fitness.
Our private gym is in the Century Plaza building on Stephens Ave
