Sail 4 Cancer’s tall ship Challenge

by Richard Groome on 25 Jan 2004 A group of 25 children with leukaemia and their families were treated to an afternoon sail on South Australia’s tall ship ‘One and All’ courtesy of Skandia Geelong Week’s Official Charity, Sail 4 Cancer.

Skandia Geelong Week marks the launch of Sail 4 Cancer Australia, a standalone subsidiary of Sail 4 Cancer UK. Sail 4 Cancer, the Official Charity of the Skandia Set Sail programme and Skandia Cowes Week, was set up by a group of keen sailors who have all lost a close friend/relative to cancer in recent years.

Sail 4 Cancer aims to raise significant funds for cancer treatment, care and research through the organisation of high profile sailing events.

The Charity, which is run entirely on voluntary basis, also provides sailing opportunities for cancer patients and their families with the aim of improving quality of life. Importantly, the funds raised within Australia will stay in Australia to help with Australian projects.

Andrew Hayward, founder of Sail 4 Cancer in the UK said ‘it was an inspirational afternoon to see these children who are being cared for by Challenge, Victoria’s major cancer support group for children under the age of 18, enjoying their first tall ship experience. Many of the older children also rose to the challenge of climbing the ship’s 90 foot masts, no mean feat even in light airs’.

Andrew added ‘we’ll be working closely with Challenge and Keeping Cancer at Bay in the future. Both organisations are doing some excellent work and their impact is incredible. Challenge’s recreation based programme has a focus on fun and it was great to see these children grinning away with smiles from ear to ear. I’d like to thank both Challenge and the crew onboard One and All for their help in organising such a great day’.

The group of children joined the ship in Williamstown and spent three hours watching the mass of sailing boats racing out on the bay. Sail 4 Cancer’s Patron, famous Australian sailor Nick Moloney, treated the children to a drive by in the super maxi Skandia. Despite heading after the super maxi with as much sail aloft as possible, Skandia had soon disappeared. Nick, a fellow Victorian (originally from Ocean Grove), will be helping Sail 4 Cancer to identify and grow opportunities in both the UK and Australia going forward.

Sail 4 Cancer can be contacted on 0424 289131 for the duration of Skandia Geelong Week. For more information visit www.sail4cancer.org