18 June 2025
There is nothing more powerful than word of mouth. Which is why we are grateful that so many of our volunteers have spent the last year visiting venues across the UK delivering talks about the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and why we exist to support young people after treatment.
There have been no less than 24 talks delivered by our volunteers in the last 12 months. These have been instrumental in raising awareness of the charity while letting people know why young people living through and beyond cancer need somewhere to turn.
As well as raising the charity’s profile, the talks have raised more than £4,000, directly helping to inspire brighter futures. We are thankful for people’s generosity, and for all the audiences who came along and found out more about the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.
Often a talk is just the start of a relationship with a community. In the last year, four groups – Bembridge Sailing Club, Upnor Sailing Club, Burnham Sailing Club, and Downham Market Young Farmers – have all made us their Charity of the Year.
Making us your Charity of the Year is a fantastic way of spreading the word about the charity while holding regular fundraising events. We are delighted to be the focus of these clubs for 2025. Their support makes a massive difference.
Talks have also led to people setting up their own fundraisers for us, planning events for later in the year, and offering to join our volunteer community.
Jamie Williams, our Community & Individual Fundraiser, helps people set up and plan their talks. He said: “I am delighted to see the success of our fundraising and awareness talks across the UK. Thanks to the dedication of our volunteers, we have introduced hundreds of new people to the work we do here at the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.
“We always say: 'a talk is never just a talk', and it is extraordinary to see how a single talk can have a butterfly effect into fundraising events and volunteer enquiries. We are very appreciative to our storytellers across the country, who give up their time to share their experiences of working with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.”
Could you help us repeat this success in the year ahead? Whether you have your own story to tell or you believe in what we do, you can be the reason someone donates, volunteers their time, or even joins a transformational sailing adventure.
Jamie continued: “I strongly believe we are only just scratching the surface with how many new audiences we can reach, so if you know of any clubs or societies that may like a talk from one of our volunteers, or if you, yourself, would be interested in speaking on behalf of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, I would love to hear from you.”
You can get in touch with Jamie at [email protected] and read our handy Talks Guide at this link for ideas and inspiration.