Luke

By the time Luke was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia aged 15, sailing was already a big part of his life.  He thought his diagnosis might mean the end of his yacht racing and sailing with the cadets.

Luke’s mum Kim explained, “Luke is an incredibly positive person, but being diagnosed with cancer was a big shock. He thought everything he loved doing would have to stop, and people treated him different, which he hated. He lost his mojo.”  So when Luke was offered to go sailing with the Trust he jumped at the chance and his mum saw the difference it made immediately;  “Sailing with the Trust gave him back a bit of what he had before, there he was ‘normal’. Things didn’t have to stop – it made him look at his cancer in a different way.’

Luke added “I was used to being in control of my body and how I felt, but on treatment I wasn’t in control, the medication made me feel depressed, hungry, ugly and fat. When I got the chance to sail with the Trust I realised I could still carry on doing what I loved. It gave me some independence back. People that haven’t had cancer don’t know how to treat or understand you. Everyone on these trips has different backgrounds and personalities but can all relate. How does sailing help you recover? It takes you away, you can just have fun and be free.’

Luke has now sailed with the Trust in the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, and participated on the Fort William to Largs leg of the Round Britain voyage.  He is currently studying for a GNVQ in catering, and planning a skydive to raise funds for the Trust. Luke will be returning to the trips in 2010 as a volunteer, helping to inspire others after their treatment.