Our trips don't just change young people's lives - as a volunteer, Anniela says her professional life has benefitted from more than ten years of taking part in sailing adventures.
Professionally, it has given me a completely different perspective on life with and after cancer, and I know this has helped shape my interactions with patients over the years.
I have made lifelong friends through the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and feel a real sense of belonging as a volunteer - as cheesy as it sounds, the charity is like family.
I first got involved by going to Teenage Cancer Trust's Find Your Sense of Tumour. Several of the young people I went with from Leeds has been supported on sailing adventures, and Ellen spoke at the event. I vividly remember her inviting all of them to join her on stage and I knew then that there was something special about the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and I was keen to know more.
I've often discussed with other volunteers how these trips impact our own lives and have heard it described as a "ctrl + alt + del on life". A complete reset.
The young people are the most inspirational and luminous individuals I have ever had the honour to spend time with. To see them grow in confidence in a few short days makes my heart burst!
Seeing them years after a trip and hearing about their experiences that they often attribute to the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust makes me very proud to be part of this incredible organisation.
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...
