04 July 2012
4th July 12
Luke Gilbert (pictured far right), from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, who has sailed with the Trust and is now a volunteer,
raised an outstanding £4141.17 for his two favourite charities supporting young people with cancer, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and Teenage Cancer Trust.
With some help from some family and friends, Luke successfully managed to raise awareness and funds for the two charities at his ‘Black Tie with a Splash of Blue’ Ball, which he hosted at Craiglands Hotel in Ilkley.
The Teenage Cancer Trust focuses on young people aged between 13 and 24 diagnosed with cancer, whilst the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust supports young people aged 8 -24 in recovery from cancer by taking them on four day sailing trips to help rebuild their confidence.
Luke presented a cheque for £2817.17 to Ellen MacArthur at his first sailing trip with the Trust of this summer, after completing his volunteer training in 2011 he will be attending all their trips this year.
144 guests attended the ball on Saturday 12 May, the evening included a raffle and auction, three-course meal and live music, Luke was thrilled with the result of all his hard work, “It was a really successful event, everyone’s been asking me if I can do another one next year. Somebody asked if I could do two a year, and I said no because we started planning in September for May! I’ll see about doing another one next year, it will be after my last sailing trip with the Trust this summer that I start planning”
Luke was diagnosed with cancer at Airedale Hospital in 2003, and then sent to St James’s University Hospital in Leeds where he was on Teenage Cancer Trust’s unit for the first three years. Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for the six young people aged between 13 and 24 diagnosed with cancer every day. They build specialist units within NHS hospitals bringing young people together to be treated by teenage cancer experts in a place designed just for them.
It was during his treatment at St James’s University Hospital in Leeds that Luke was invited to sail with the Trust, who works with every young person’s primary cancer care unit in the UK. The Trust has worked with the St James’s since 2008, so far they have taken over 20 young people sailing from the area and this year St James’s have 9 places on the Trusts trips.
Luke first sailed with the Trust in 2010 on a trip specifically for 18-24 year olds – trips which are slightly adapted for the older age group, to help them take back the independence most young adults are enjoying at this age - independence which has been affected by cancer treatment. Luke has just returned from this year’s 18-24 trip, as a Volunteer, “Despite the weather being absolutely awful, everybody I’ve come across has really enjoyed it. Despite them all going through such an awful thing, they’re probably some of the happiest people I’ve ever seen. It just goes to show a bit of turmoil in your life makes you appreciate how good life is, I’m quite privileged to be able to come on these trips!”
Everyone at the Trust wants to say a huge thankyou to Luke, his family and friends for the organisation and funds raised. It was a truly great evening and you can see photos from the event here.