A chance for siblings aged 8-17 of young people the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust has previously supported in recovery from cancer to enjoy an adventure that is their own.
A family’s life is turned upside down when a young person is diagnosed with cancer. Brothers and sisters can be significantly impacted by the long-term illness of a sibling. They need support too.
In 2025, this five-day residential trip will take place at Longtown Outdoors between Wednesday 23 July - Sunday 27 July.
It is open to anyone aged between 8 and 17, whose sibling has previously been supported by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust after treatment. Up to 30 young people will be on this trip.
“I struggled a lot in school worrying about my brother and his health, even after he was given the all clear. Having a trip for siblings showed me I wasn’t alone and made my situation feel more normal." - India
"To go away, face her fears, and have such an amazing time means she has a point of reference next time she goes into a new situation and feels overcome with anxiety."- Petra's mum
With everything going on at home it was a big deal for Petra to leave it behind for a week. Her sister, Rowan, has been in and out of hospital over the last 10 years. Their mum says it meant Petra was left to get on with things on her own.
Find out more about Petra's Story
Find out more about the trips Support the TrustYour medical information comes from the digital medical form you fill in prior to the trip, so make sure you include all relevant, up to date medical and non-medical information you feel we should know about. On all of our trips we have at least two qualified medics to help cover any necessary medical needs of the young people.
Not as much as you think! Closer to the time of your trip we will send you a full kit list containing all the information you need.
Please don't bring big bulky bags or suitcases as there is very limited storage space - a soft holdall or something that can be squished down is perfect.
Please bring a swimsuit or something you can wear under a wetsuit. You won’t need any specialist clothing, waterproofs or a lifejacket – we provide all that - just normal clothes, including some warm layers, shoes you don’t mind getting wet. You will basically live in joggers/leggings, a hoodie and your Trust trip t-shirt!
We also always have plenty of high-factor sun cream on all of our trips. All the centres provide bedding, including pillows.
All meals will be provided by the centre teams. We will always do whatever we can to cater for everyone’s needs and aim to promote a healthy diet. You can tell us if you have any dietary requirements when you complete your Medical Form.
Breakfast consists of cereals, toast and a cooked option. Lunch will be packed lunch, which can be taken on activities. A hot meal will be provided in the evenings, followed by pudding, and snacks are available in the evening should you still be a bit peckish! We will make sure you drink plenty during the activities.
You will be staying in same sex, shared bedrooms. Rooms vary in size and sleep between one to four people. All rooms have storage for clothing and personal belongings and freshly laundered bed linen in provided. The centre is full accessible.
Any phones or valuable electronic equipment are brought along entirely at your own risk and we cannot be responsible for any loss or damage. We recommend these are left at home, but do understand you may want to bring them along for the journey. Our staff and volunteers will have phones you can use to phone home if necessary and Trust contact will be provided to family and friends should they need to get in touch while you’re away. Everything is provided so you only need enough money for any extra snacks or souvenirs you want to buy. We suggest no more than £20.
All advice and guidance on what to do if you have been or feel ill before your trip can be found here - Guidance on pre-trip illness
If you know a young person who has been supported by the Trust, could their siblings 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 – eligibility information can be found on the trip page.
If you know a young person who has been supported by the Trust, could their siblings 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 – eligibility information can be found on the trip page.
After treatment many of us feel like we’ve been dropped and find it extremely hard to get back to where we were and feel accepted by society again. Thankfully the Trust helps pick us up after this dramatic drop.
Emily