An epic sailing adventure involving 100 young people in recovery from cancer taking in the beautiful and diverse coastline of the British Isles set off from Largs Yacht Haven earlier this month.
It marked the official beginning of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust Round Britain relay taking in 2400 miles of the coastline between now and September.
The crew will stop in over 60 towns and ports where people are encouraged to get involved with activities on shore, welcome the crew in and visit Moonspray, the 44ft yacht which will be home to the young people throughout the summer; the vessel will make a triumphant return to Largs, which homes the charity’s Scottish base, to round off the round UK challenge.
The voyage will be a celebration of recovery, achievement and potential as it brings together the past, present and future young people and volunteers the Trust work with. As part of this, the crew will be engaging with local hospitals with the aim of establishing a positive outlook for the futures of young people still undergoing treatment for cancer.
A flotilla of yachts and cruisers from Largs Yacht Haven accompanied the charity vessel Moonspray to provide a spectacular sight for the big send off on Saturday.
At a special launch ceremony held in the Largs Sailing clubhouse, the young crew spoke maturely and with great excitement and anticipation for the forthcoming voyage which was first up of all heading to Kip Marina, before heading on upwards to Glasgow, and then onwards to Oban.
Dame Ellen MacArthur said: “The charity is an extraordinary charity - the goal of the trust is to take young people when they have finished their treatment and re-build their confidence. It is incredibly hard - when you are young you are thrown into a completely different world, having to go to hospital, and when you are treated, you try and get on with your life but you don’t have a life as it has been turned upside down, and that is where we come in.
“ A young person can arrive with very little confidence and can leave the most gregarious outgoing person. The sailing trips are all about fun and getting the most out of every single moment of every single day. Being on a boat provides a magic atmosphere which really transforms the young people. Round Britain 2017 is an incredibly special event for us and promotes the work of the trust around the country and see what this is all about. It is basically a massive relay, but a relay with an adventure that a young person will play a part in and achieve something very special. These young people are amazing and among the most inspirational people you could ever meet.”
Crew members then spoke about the amazing effect that sailing with the charity trust had given them, with some describing it as ‘like a second family’, while others said they were looking forward to ‘hunting for Nessie’ during their expedition.
Chrissie, 21, said: “As a young person the fact you get the opportunity to go with people who have been through a similar experience, you get to understand who you are as a person and you grow so much. It is an amazing experience.”
Victoria added: “Going through cancer stops your life. It takes a toll on your whatever treatment you are having. Going from a hospital bed, to normal life, and then to be out on a sailing adventure - it really transforms your life.”
Dame Ellen said: “When we set out as a charity trust, we never set out thinking it was going to be a four day event for these young people on sailing trips, and saying goodbye. It was always our intention for it ot be an ongoing relationship, and to keep in touch with everyone, so young people come back and spend time with each other and we go cruising for another week, and keep in contact, and it is great to see these young people now coming back as volunteer on all our trips.
“They can see forward a little more quickly, and this provides a massive difference.”
The Round UK sailing trip ends in September at Largs Yacht Haven where the Scottish base of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is based.
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