A young success story for The Ellen MacArthur Trust
It has been a record breaking year for The Ellen MacArthur Trust in terms of the number of children in recovery from cancer and leukaemia that have gone sailing, and the continued fundraising that is enabling the Trust to take even more children out sailing
2007 will mark the 5th birthday of The Ellen MacArthur Trust. To mark this anniversary, on the 3rd January one of the first youngsters The Trust ever took sailing, Dan Monk now 20 years old, will start training for his Commercial Yachtmaster courtesy of the charity and with assistance from UKSA. Dan Monk now 20 years old, was first diagnosed with leukaemia in 2002; he went sailing on a trip in 2003 where he met Ellen MacArthur for the first time. The experience so changed his life, that it was one of his main motivators for fighting his cancer when it returned in 2005. Just two days before undergoing a bone marrow transplant in 2005 Dan sailed with the Trust in the J P Morgan Asset Management round the Island Race, but due to light winds the boat was forced to retire. After undergoing his treatment at UCLH (University College London Hospital), Dan’s transplant was successful and he was determined to finish what he had started the year before, returning to sail onboard the Scarlet Oyster in the 2006 JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. Scarlet Oyster completed the race finishing 236th overall
Dan’s love for sailing has grown, and he has expanded his skills on the water through various deliveries & passages. Whilst ultimately he hopes to embark on a career in sailing, he returned in 2006 as a volunteer, and will continue his work with The Trust, helping with the trips and aiming to skipper a trip in 2007.
The Ellen MacArthur Trust recognises the need to support these youngsters in the long term, and has funded Dan’s 4-month Ccmmercial Yachtmaster course at UKSA in Cowes. Numerous studies have shown the long -term psychological effects of cancer and leukaemia on youngsters to last beyond their treatment.
"I'm nervous, but really looking forward to getting started,” said Dan. “This course will give me the opportunity to repay the favour to the Trust for all the trips that I took part in over the last few years. I enjoyed sailing with The Trust so much, it did a huge amount for me and I can't wait to finish the course and get back out on the water, but this time as part of the team running the trips and helping the new kids that will be joining us in 2007. I'm just over the moon at this opportunity and I would like to thanks everyone at The Trust for supporting me".
The Ellen MacArthur Trust now works with Southampton General Hospital, Great Ormond Street, University College London Hospital, Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children, CLIC Sargent in Bristol, Queens Medical Centre in Bristol, and plans to work with three more hospitals in 2007.
Monies raised in year one of a three year term as the official charity to Skandia Cowes Week has allowed The Ellen MacArthur Trust to further expand how they support the long term well-being of the children they take sailing.
In addition to the four-day sailing trips in 2007, there will be a week long residential sailing course. This course aims to provide a support structure for children that invites them to continue joining The Trust after their treatment has finished, seeing them return yearly through the five year remission period and also giving them the opportunity to progress through the RYA dinghy scheme.
“It is so important to provide a structured
support system for these children, which continues beyond the treatment and into their recovery and remission period. We hope to build long term relationships, with the overall aim of some of the youngsters returning to take part as a volunteers for the Trust in the future”. EMT Patron, Ellen MacArthur
JPMorgan Asset Management were so impressed by the work of The Ellen MacArthur Trust and Dan’s story they donated £15,000 in 2006.
Without the continued support of the likes of Skandia Cowes Week, JPMorgan Asset Management, Little Britain Challenge Cup and The Derbyshire Building Society, through their affinity account, The Ellen MacArthur Trust would not be in the position that it is now. “In 2007, The Trust will be able to take twice as many children out sailing than in 2006”, commented Double Olympic gold medallist and EMT Patron Shirley Robertson. “It is an amazing position to be in for a charity such as ourselves, and we cannot thank everyone for their continued support and fundraising over the last five years”.
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