The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust sets sail this July from their new base at Largs Yacht Haven.

Throughout this month, the trust will run four five-day sailing adventures, taking 76 young people, in recovery from cancer, on sailing trips.

The trips will navigate the waters of the Firth of Clyde, making various stopovers, including Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute, before sailing on to the National Sailing Centre on Cumbrae and back to Largs, giving young people in recovery from cancer the chance to rebuild their confidence through sailing.

Taking part in the first trip to sail from the new Scottish base this summer, Amy Quinn (21) from Glasgow, who finished treatment in June 2013 for ovarian serous carcinoma, said: “This is my second trip with the trust and its been really exciting to come back and learn a bit more about sailing. The trips are just the best thing ever and it’s so exciting that more people will have the opportunity to experience it.” This is the second year the trust has run a sailing programme in Largs. However thanks to the Largs Yacht Haven and players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the summer of 2014 is a landmark as the trust opens the doors to their own office.

Director for Largs Yacht Haven, Carolyn Elder, believes Largs is the ideal place for the new Scottish base. She said: “As a company we are continually supporting operations who can benefit from sailing and, of course, we are proud to be working in association with yachting’s great heroine, Ellen MacArthur. “We have developed Largs Yacht Haven into a fully serviced yachting centre and having businesses like the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust choose Largs can only enhance our reputation.” In their 11th year, the trust has grown beyond every expectation into a national charity. The expansion of their operation from the Isle of Wight to Largs, comes as part of a three-year plan to double the number of young people they take sailing. Thanks to the long-term support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who pledge to raise £1 million over the next 10 years, the trust will keep investing and developing the base in Largs until they are able to run a full summer programme from April–September taking a further 200 young people sailing per year.

* To become a Friend of the Trust and help them to continue to provide support and encouragement to young people in recovery from cancer visit http://www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org