Ellen MacArthur trust in 2007

New work and fund raising to help children suffering from cancer and leukemia

Due to the amazing support The Ellen MacArthur Trust received in 2006, the charity has been able to expand their support for youngsters recovering from cancer and leukaemia. This will mean that nearly 150 children will attend the sailing trips in 2007 with The Trust, double the number taken in 2006.

The Trust will work with three new hospitals in Cambridge, London and Scotland adding to the eight established hospitals and children’s cancer charities they currently work with. Children from The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and CLIC Sargent Scotland will attend four-day sailing trips over the summer months with The Ellen MacArthur Trust.

Also new for 2007, The Ellen MacArthur Trust will also establish its first residential sailing course, enabling children to gain RYA dinghy sailing (The Royal Yachting Association) qualifications, giving the children the skills to continue sailing at their local sailing club.

For those youngsters who have developed a passion for the sport after attending a Trust trip there will also be an opportunity to sail in the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race. When the Island Sailing Club opened the entry for this year’s JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race on 5 January, The Ellen MacArthur Trust was the first to sign up one of the three boats they will sail in the 55-mile race. Scarlet Oyster, a 48-foot monohull, has been donated by its owner to The Trust for their sailing days throughout 2007. Five children from The Ellen MacArthur Trust will race onboard the monohull, as well as five other children onboard the UKSA catamaran Spirit.

Current Raymarine Young Sailor of the Year, Katie Miller will be raising more money for The Ellen MacArthur Trust, as she joins Daniel Monk onboard her 21ft Corribee Electra. Daniel was diagnosed with Leukaemia in 2002 and joined The Trust on their first trip in 2003. In 2005 Daniel sailed with the charity for the Round the Island Race, two days before the start he discovered his leukaemia had returned and he needed a bone marrow transplant. One of his main motivations during his treatment was to return in 2006 to race and complete the 55-mile course. He succeeded, finishing the course in 326th place overall.

Through support from The Ellen MacArthur Trust, Daniel has since started a Commercial Yachtmaster course at UKSA, and is aiming to work with The Trust as a skipper in the future. Katie Miller, a Trust volunteer will join Daniel on Electra, the same boat that she sailed around Britain in raising £5,000 for The Trust in 2006.

"It is going to be an exciting year for The Trust", commented Patron Ellen MacArthur. "2006 was an incredible year for all of us and it has allowed us to expand in 2007. This year’s JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race will be our biggest undertaking at this event so far, and I hope that it is a great day for everyone involved".

For this year’s JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race The Ellen MacArthur Trust will be circumnavigating the Island by foot, bike and sail. Whilse the young people will be on the water racing amongst some of the top sailors in the world, four intrepid walker’s and forty cyclists will be taking on the 115 km course around the Isle of Wight from the start line at the Royal Yacht Squadron to the finish in Cowes Yacht Haven.

Trust Patron, Ellen MacArthur was the first person to make a donation to Team Ellen MacArthur Trust’s Justgiving fundraising page for the Round the Island Race. If you would like to sponsor Team Ellen MacArthur for the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race please click on the link below.

http://www.justgiving.com/ellenmacarthurtrust