14 May 2025
With the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust's Isle of Wight home in boatfolk's East Cowes Marina, boatfolk want to spread the word, and make a difference, beyond the island by running a year-long campaign to support and fundraise for the charity at each of its marinas.
With the charity supporting young people from across the UK, boatfolk will focus the next 12 months on sharing the stories of young people local to each marina, running events and fundraisers to raise money for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and inspiring their engaged and vibrant community of berth holders to get involved and even fundraise themselves.
As well as East Cowes, boatfolk has marinas in Bangor (Northern Ireland), Conwy (North Wales), Penarth (South Wales), Portishead (Bristol), Weymouth and Portland (Dorset), Rhu (Scotland), Royal Quays (North Shields) as well as Deacons and Haslar marinas in Southampton and Portsmouth respectively.
Lindsay Nehorai, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust Fundraising Manager, said: "We're very grateful to our friends at boatfolk for coming up with this nationwide campaign to support young people living through and beyond cancer.
"At a time when fundraising is arguably harder than it's ever been, and against the backdrop of continuing rising costs, ideas and support like this can have a very real impact on the number of young people who can access the vital support we provide after the trauma of cancer treatment. We look forward to helping boatfolk achieve maximum impact with this campaign.
Dominic Zammit, Group Commercial Director boatfolk, said: “This is a fantastic way to share the incredible stories and impact of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust across our marinas.
"Bringing its impact to our berth holder community at local level will raise awareness of its work in supporting young people living through and beyond cancer and help to raise the vital funds it needs so more young people can benefit from its life-changing sailing adventures. We are delighted to be able to support the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust in this unique way.”
This is not the first time boatfolk have helped fundraise for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. In 2021, a team of six runners from four of its marinas took on the virtual Royal Parks Half Marathon and raised over £1,000 for the charity.
Jess Olden and Mike Townsend, from East Cowes Marina, were also guests at the official naming ceremony of the charity's new yacht, Kalooki, in March 2025.