14 December 2023
Across 2023, so many people took up challenges, hosted events, gave talks, and generally spread the word of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust – all while raising money towards inspiring brighter futures for young people living through and beyond cancer.
It would be impossible to name everyone who has contributed and made a difference by drumming up support this year. We want to say a massive thank you to each and every one of you. If you feel motivated to do the same in 2024, or you already have some resolutions in mind, read our fundraising pages for advice and info on all the ways we will help you achieve your goal. Here are some fantastic ideas from the last 12 months...
It’s become tradition for Tim to arrange an annual cycle through the beautiful Dorset countryside. In sunny September he and his colleagues raised more than £3,800, which just goes to show how much of a difference working together and getting friends involved can make. Next year will be Tim’s 10th anniversary of supporting the Trust and we are so grateful for his efforts over the years, and all those who have joined him.
Severn House at Monmouth School for Boys put an impressive shift in by cycling, swimming, rowing, and running 418km, smashing their 354km target (the distance of the Severn River) over half-term and the first week of November, raising £382. What a physical feat!
Louise and her musical friends have hosted a number of tuneful get togethers in 2023, raising more than £1,600 so far by combining fundraising with some singing and dancing. She founded the Sandwich Series concerts which ran throughout the year, as well as arranging an African Singing Workshop with 60 attendees vocalising in harmony. Based in Rhu, the local ukulele band is called Rhukulele!
An adventure with a twist: Stacey and her family travelled the entire coastline of Scotland in two tuk tuks! She was supported by us when she was younger, before going on to become a volunteer. Together with her husband and their two children, they raised £4,406 - and they did it in style.
Our friends at Boatfolk in the East Cowes Marina are hosting a Christmas raffle, which is a lovely way to do some end-of-year fundraising while getting in the festive cheer. Thank you to them for their constant support.
The RS Association has donated more than £2,700 across the year from a number of sailing events around the UK, which have included raffles and inspirational talks from Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust volunteers. Having a year-long focus such as this really adds up over the months, and will make a real difference to the lives of young people.
#200for20In celebration of the charity’s 20th anniversary this year, we launched our #200for20 fundraiser, encouraging people to raise £200 however they wanted. With an initial target of £5,000, it was staggering to see the final total cross £12,000, which is a testament to you, our amazing community.
Katharine raised a whopping £1,745 of this by taking on five wonderful memory-filled walks in Wales. Her daughter, Claire, was supported by us when she was younger, and now sits on our Board of Trustees. Katharine said: “I cannot thank the Trust enough for helping Claire and us as a family to be able to move forward when things were so dark and difficult.”
Hosting a bake sale and a raffle, Jamie raised more than £1,300, saying he was ‘delighted to give something back’ after the ‘amazing trips’ his son Charlie had been on. Across the whole of May, Isla ran an incredible 100km and raised more than £300. In our Largs office, Hayley gave up Irn Bru for 20 days and raised more than £400. Skipper and volunteer Rich and his team took on the Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge in April, raising more than £1,700 between them.
It was incredible to see everyone band together to mark 20 wonderful years of transforming young lives. Here’s to the next 20