Ellen MacArthur Charity

I'd like to start this month's charitable offerings with a word about dreams. Dreams - in the sense of life long ambitions that you know you will probably never actually do, but somehow the thought is enough to obtain some sense of satisfaction. Such dreams often include an ideal holiday - far too extensive in time or expense to be attainable without an immense dedication. World cruise? I think you'll agree that unless you have a burning desire to chart the Australian outback, touring the globe by sea would provide a rich array of new and unique experiences.

Ellen MacArthur

I surmise that Ellen MacArthur would agree with my take on cruising the world – well almost. I say almost because for this woman sailing round the world was not merely a dream, and secondly because her achievement was not only single-handed but it earned her a highly respected place in nautical history.

Now the world record holder for the fastest single-handed circumnavigation of the globe, MacArthur completed her record-breaking voyage on February 7, 2005, beating the previous record set by Francis Joyon, by just over one day. Joyon had brought the record to an impressive 72 days, 22 hours, 54 minutes and 22 seconds, and was expected to remain unbeaten for many years. A combination of skill and determination enabled MacArthur to bring home victory on her first attempt.

The Cause

Cancer and leukaemia affect a great number of people of all ages and each patient is faced with an epic journey of their own. Those who recover face the daunting task of regaining strength and confidence, a challenge which can be particularly difficult for young sufferers of such illnesses.

Prior to the founding of her own charity, MacArthur was involved in the French project Chacun a son Coup (roughly translated this means - everyone to their own goal) where she spent a day sailing with children who were at the time suffering from serious illnesses such as cancer and leukaemia. Combining both her ability as a sailor and more importantly her strong will to succeed, she was able to provide an inspiring role model for young people who had already embarked upon the most demanding of personal journeys. 

Despite her many previous victories, MacArthur described this experience as the best day's sailing she had ever had: “We laughed so much we had tears in our eyes and the kids were just incredible”. Further work with Chacon a son Coup and with Sargent Cancer Care, inspired the sporting heroine to found her own organisation.

Activities

The principal activities organised by the Ellen MacArthur Trust are sailing expeditions lasting for 4 days, with each night spent in a different port. Children taking part will live and sleep on the boats, namely 38-45ft cruising yachts, in order to experience all aspects of the sport. Constant support from their piers and from experienced sailors allows them to face personal challenges in a safe and supportive environment. A sense of adventure is also paramount in restoring confidence and a zest for life. Sailing can provide an enormous sense of liberation, but the Ellen MacArthur trust has taken this to a new level.

The qualities needed for a sailor as successful as MacArthur are invaluable in all patients suffering from serious illnesses and she strives to provide constant encouragement for young sufferers until they reach remission. Participants are invited back to take part in events such as the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, around the Isle of Wight.

How You Can Help

The Ellen MacArthur Trust relies on donations to fund all expedition. Information on how you can offer your support can be found on the official website.

I began thinking about how I could help by conjuring images of a dream journey, which for Ellen MacArthur involved sailing around the world, forgoing luxury for an extreme sense of adventure - constantly driven by a desire to achieve a lifetime goal. Turning her attention to young sufferers of serious illness (to whom such an outlook is an invaluable asset) Ellen has achieved a much greater success. This woman is truly an inspiration to all and deserves as much support as we can give her.

- David Haw 

Ellen MacArthur Charity