Paul

“My name’s Paul Gavin and I’m a 21 year old ex-Osteosarcoma patient. 

I first got involved with the Trust in August 2009, when I was lucky enough to take part in Leg 14 of the Round Britain Voyage from Holyhead to Cardiff - this was my first ever experience of sailing.  I can still remember the journey to Holyhead – I was a little nervous and unsure of what the week would hold, yet I was full of excitement – this was going to be a trip of a lifetime.

The week sailing passed all of my expectations and it was most certainly the highlight of 2009 for me.  I had so much fun on board the boat, from sailing under a clear night’s sky to socialising with everyone both above and below deck.  Every one of us on board had been in similar situations, so there were no awkward questions or any feeling of self-consciousness, it was just a week of pure enjoyment – even when the weather weren’t the kindest to us.

For me, the trip proved to be the starting block for everything starting to return to the long-dreamt of stage of “normality”– it is something so simple but the thing which I had craved for so long, and what I had missed the most while on treatment.  The trip had shown me that there are no boundaries to what you can achieve, and it provided with me so much more self-confidence.

It was due to this that when I was asked if I wanted to be a volunteer this year I had no hesitation in saying yes, and I’ve just come back from a week of volunteer training!  The Trust provided me with one of the most exhilarating, unforgettable, and most of all fun experiences after all of the hell that had gone on before it.  I cannot wait to help the Trust provide an unforgettable experience for other youngsters in the summer this year, and I hope that their week will be just as memorable as mine.”

Paul received his Competent Crew qualification at the end of the Training Week, and will be coming down to volunteer on a yacht trip in the summer.  He will be a huge asset with his positive attitude and great sense of humour, and provide inspiration to young people from Alder Hey, Liverpool where Paul himself was treated just over a year ago.