Largs-based children's cancer charity set to return to the water

The coronavirus pandemic prevented young people from across Scotland coming together to sail with the organisation last year.

However, the charity is now looking towards brighter days ahead and is planning both day sails and longer cruising trips in the summer.

Frank Fletcher, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust CEO, says resuming operations will make a huge difference to the lives of hundreds of young people.

He said: “We’ve said it so many times in the past year; young people living through and beyond cancer need us more than ever.

“The isolation, loneliness and anxiety experienced by young people with cancer has been massively amplified by Covid-19.

“Bringing them back together is the best way we can make a difference but it must be safe, and exploring how to do that has been our sole focus this winter.

“While we can’t eliminate all risk, we can minimise it and have revised our safety procedures and risk management measures for all trips.

“Nothing would make me happier than the trust supporting young people in person again this summer and we now believe we can safely make that happen.”

The charity normally takes young people to Largs for a four day sailing trip, however this year that will be cut to just a single day’s sailing.

Young people treated for cancer at hospitals across the country will be invited to the North Coast for a day of adventure on the water.

Largs will kickstart the trust’s 2021 season on Monday July 12 ahead of activities across the rest of the UK.

It is also the only location in the UK that will welcome young people for both first-time Taste of the Trust days and week-long trips for previously supported young people.

Frank added: “The past year has taught us all it’s impossible to be 100 per cent certain about anything.

“We can plan, but there are still things out of our control that could ultimately decide if or which trips will be able to go ahead."