"We’ve not had much control over our lives because of the experiences we’ve had. It’s really nice to be able to reclaim that."
Finn was just six years old when he began experiencing severe chest pains. Doctors told him they were caused by anxiety, but the only thing making him anxious were the chest pains.
He was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, finishing treatment when he was eight, before relapsing the following year.
“It feels really good to be through it all,” he says, now in recovery for the second time.
"I’ve done things I never thought I could. I’ve made some great friends and I’m really glad I came."
At first, Finn was nervous about spending time on a boat and worried he wouldn’t make friends. “Throughout the week, you bond with people and get comfortable with your group,” he said.
There was an ‘unspoken understanding’ on his trip, instantly connecting everyone. It made for a really nice atmosphere where he didn’t have to talk about cancer, but everyone knew what everyone else had been through.
The trip was the first real chance Finn got to be around people his age who had gone through the same thing. He made a lot of friends as part of the crew, while picking up skills like learning to steer the boat.
“It was absolutely unforgettable. An amazing experience.”
.png)
“I think I got better as I went on…” he says with a grin. “Originally I got the way the steering wheel turned the boat mixed up. That was not great.”
Having these responsibilities helped him rebuild his confidence during his second recovery.Being on a boat on the open sea gave Finn a sense of freedom.
He thought of hospital appointments and having to take medicine, and how being on a yacht gave him a chance to be in control for once.
He was glad he fought through the nerves. “It was absolutely unforgettable," he adds. "An amazing experience.”
If you, or someone you know, could benefit from Trust support, or you want to make a difference to young lives after cancer, here's how you can...
