Please select your home edition
Edition
Rooster 2025

Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust launches Christmas appeal during 'challenging time for all charities'

by Scott Wilson 16 Nov 2024 02:29 AEDT
Sailing with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust © Martin Allen Photography

Dame Ellen MacArthur's cancer charity is asking for your support this Christmas to help even more young survivors get on the water for much needed support in 2025.

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, which has bases in East Cowes on the Isle of Wight and Largs on Scotland's west coast, supported 671 young people this year, more than any other year since Dame Ellen set it up in 2003.

Frank Fletcher, the charity's CEO, said: "It is a really challenging time for all charities. To do what we need to do for young people next summer, we need the support of the sailing community this Christmas. One of the greatest gifts you could give is a young person their future back after they have been through the trauma of cancer and treatment. We can only be there for them next summer and into the future with your help."

The national charity takes young people aged 8-24 who are living through and beyond cancer on sailing and outdoor adventures to inspire them to believe in a brighter future.

Young people like Ben, who was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma aged 21 in 2020, which led to six months of chemotherapy.

Now 26 and having sailed with the charity three times, he said: "I didn't feel like I needed support. I felt like I was coping and had everything under control. But my first trip with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust taught me to talk about my cancer, which helped me mentally and emotionally process the trauma of that time. On my second, I realised there were still more things to process. Then after my third, it was like coming full circle.

"Being surrounded by other young people talking about cancer in a free, darkly humorous, amazing way was a turning point for me. It knocked me sideways because I realised there was still work to be done. I started talking about it again after suppressing it. I replaced the wall I'd built with a bridge.

"Three years ago, I wouldn't have talked about what appointment I was going to, or when I'd had a bald head. Now, I can say I look good bald, and I'm able to show people a picture from that time.

"I didn't ever want to be known as Ben, the one who has cancer. I wanted to be known as Ben, who is fun to be around and is achieving things. Without the charity, who I really am would be a guarded secret and there would be a wall hiding me from the outside world."

Because cancer can have such a big impact on a young person's mental wellbeing, what happens afterwards can often be as difficult as treatment itself.

It can lead to lower educational achievement, difficulties with friendships and relationships, body image issues, and late effects such as infertility, extreme fatigue, and hearing or vision loss.

For many young survivors, picking up where they left off is impossible, and adjusting to their 'new normal' is extremely difficult.

That's why when treatment ends, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust's work begins.

The charity's sailing and outdoor adventures are a chance for young people to laugh and have fun again. Their optimism returns and their mental wellbeing improves. They stop feeling like 'the only one' and gain a new sense of purpose and self-worth.

With your help this Christmas, more young survivors will believe in a brighter future in 2025.

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is there for anyone looking for support, no matter how long off treatment they are. Visit www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org to donate or sign up for a trip, or follow @emctrust on social media.

Related Articles

Vale Hugh Treharne OAM
The Australian sailing community is mourning the passing of one of its greatest contributors The Australian sailing community is mourning the passing of one of its greatest contributors, Hugh Treharne OAM, who died peacefully surrounded by his loving family in Sydney last night. Posted today at 10:01 am
2025 X-Yachts Aurum Cup
Magnificent blue skies... but some tricky wind conditions! The 2025 X-Yachts Aurum Cup was held in Sydney over the weekend in magnificent blue skies... but some tricky wind conditions! Posted today at 8:11 am
Faithful look forward to Airlie Beach Race Week
Performance Racing category has already attracted 15 entries Just as Whitsunday Sailing Club is looking forward to 74 Islands Distillery Airlie Beach Race Week, so too are competitors, including those in the Performance Racing category where already 15 have signed up ready to race in the 37th edition. Posted today at 5:34 am
31st Block Island Race Week Day 2
Regatta Craft Mixers Race Day turns up the heat Regatta Craft Mixers Race Day turned up the heat at Block Island Race Week—literally. The Island was not spared from the heat wave sweeping the East Coast this week, but that did not put a stop to the action out on the water. Posted today at 12:14 am
Triple amputee crosses Pacific solo & unsupported
33-year-old former Army rifleman from Doncaster, Craig Wood, has today made history 33-year-old former Army rifleman from Doncaster, Craig Wood, has today made history by becoming the world's first triple amputee to sail solo, non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific. Posted on 24 Jun
Kieler Woche Day 5
Tuesday served as a warm-up for the hot finale of Kieler Woche Sophie Steinlein and Catherine Bartelheimer from Bavaria in the skiff, as well as Kiel native Fabian Wolf on the foiling windsurf board, will enter Wednesday's (June 25) medal races as leaders. Posted on 24 Jun
iQFOiL International Games at Kiel day 4
Medal series line-up confirmed as wind hits hard in Kiel The fourth and penultimate day of the 3rd iQFOiL International Games in Kiel delivered full-throttle action as athletes across the Senior, Youth, and Junior fleets raced to secure their spots in the all-important Medal Series. Posted on 24 Jun
44Cup Marstrand 2025 starts tomorrow
Fleet back up to 12 on eve of breezy Marstrand event While the RC44s were up to 11 for the last event in Porto Cervo, for this week's 44Cup Marstrand, scheduled to set sail tomorrow from the breezy west coast of Sweden, the fleet has now grown to 12. Posted on 24 Jun
Charlie Dalin forced to cancel his 2025 season
Sam Goodchild and Loïs Berrehar to helm MACIF Santé Prévoyance for the Transat Café L'OR Due to health reasons, Charlie Dalin has been forced to cancel his 2025 season. However, in close consultation with his team, the skipper of the IMOCA MACIF Santé Prévoyance and Macif have decided to maintain the ambitious racing schedule. Posted on 24 Jun
A bold start for Foiling Week 2025
The opening phase of racing has already delivered record-breaking numbers The twelfth edition of Foiling Week has kicked off with a consistent schedule and strong support from the global foiling community. Posted on 24 Jun
Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS FooterZhik 2024 DecemberVaikobi 2024 December