"After treatment many of us feel like we've been dropped and find it extremely hard to get back to where we were and fell accepted by society again. Thankfully the Trust helps pick us up after this dramatic drop."
Emily
Whether you're coming to the end of your treatment and want something to look forward to or you finished treatment years ago but feel you could do with a bit of support around people who 'get it', you've come to the right place!
Welcome to the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust - we are so exited you're here, because we know what you've got to look forward to!
You're here because someone you know gets why coming sailing with us would make such a difference to you at this point in your life.
How you will find an independence you thought you had lost, meet other young people like you, stop feeling like you're on your own, and use your body in a way you maybe thought you couldn't anymore.
But beyond all that, they know you will have so much fun and an incredible experience somewhere that wants you to feel you can be yourself, all of the time.
Come and discover that sailing isn't something 'other people' do, but what being #InTheSameBoat with others who 'get it' can do for you.
“During my treatment, I never met people my own age who have been through the same experience. I wanted to connect with people and I have. We’re literally all in the same boat. I could be myself.”
1) You will get an email from our team with a bit more information and a few questions to find out a little bit more about you.
2) Once we've heard back from you and have confirmed you're eligible, we will start looking at what trip we can offer you. That trip could be from Cool Cowes on the Isle of Wight or Lovely Largs on Scotland's West Coast. Don't worry about how you will get there and home, we will sort all that out.
3) If you're not eligible for this year and/or our trip spaces are full, we will ask if you want to go on our waiting list, in case a space does become available, or if you would like to defer your place until next year.
4) If everything's good for this year, we will email you an Offer of Place with your trip dates and a more information on what we need next, including a Medical Risk Assessment (MRA) completed and returned to us. This is all explained in that email.
5) Once we've had your MRA you will receive a Confirmation of Place email (this can be up to 6 weeks before your trip date) then about a month before, you will be emailed all your Trip Information including travel details. In the 2 weeks before your trip, you will also have a phone call with our team for any last minute reassurance or questions.
6) If we're not able to get you on a trip this year, we will back in touch in the autumn to find out if you still want to come next year, and if so, you will be sent your trip date options in November/December.
Ellen was just four when she first stepped on a boat, but immediately knew her life would be full of sailing adventures.
What she didn't know then was that she would end up sailing around the world twice, and, in 2005, become the fastest person to ever do that!
Ellen believed sailing could give young people recovering from cancer an amazing chance to develop life skills they might have missed out on during treatment, get out of their comfort zone, get a confidence boost, gain a sense of independence and most importantly, enjoy themselves. She was right!
It's why her message is clear - ‘Go for it!' WATCH: Sailing towards a brighter future with Ellen MacArthur
Are you interested in coming on this Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust trip? Or do you know someone who you think might benefit from joining us? Please fill in the contact form below, or call 01983 297750 to chat to one of our team.
Please note – eligibility information can be found on the trip page.
Do you know a young person aged 8-24 that could benefit from Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust support? Please fill in the contact form below, or call 01983 297750 to chat to one of our team.
Please note - treatment must be finished before a young person comes on a trip. But if you would like to find out more about what support is open to them after your treatment ends we would still like to hear from you.
The week has been the best! I never thought I would get the chance to do this. I’ve made loads of new friends, I’ll definitely stay in touch.
Danielle, 15