A Cowes fundraiser took on the Brighton Marathon last month in aid of the East Cowes based cancer charity she devotes her summers to.
Esme Sheath, 21, from Cowes, is the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust’s Summer Trip Assistant, ensuring the young people supported by the charity have everything they need for their adventures. She smashed her £600 fundraising target by completing the marathon and raising a fantastic £920.
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust takes young people aged 8-24 on sailing and outdoor adventures to inspire them to believe in a brighter future living through and beyond cancer.
Esme, who is studying geography and international development at the University of Sussex, said:
“Before learning about the work of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, I had never really thought about the ‘after’ of cancer and the challenges young people face once treatment ends. Hearing about the Trust’s mission helped me understand how important that stage of recovery can be.
“Meeting the young people on the trips last summer was incredibly inspiring. I saw them build friendships and form supportive communities with others who truly understood their experiences. It was amazing to watch their confidence grow over the course of the trip.
“Meeting the dedicated team who make these trips possible also inspired me. Seeing the impact of their work made me want to help raise awareness and support the Trust so that more young people can benefit from these life-changing experiences.
“I love a personal challenge and running a marathon is way out of my comfort zone. I couldn’t run 5k when I signed up and my ever-supportive mum says I run like a T-rex. I wanted to use this challenge to do something more than just for myself.”
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Esme’s fundraising page can be found here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/esme-sheath
Whether diagnosed as a child, teenager, or young adult, cancer has a big impact on mental wellbeing beyond treatment. Friendships and relationships suffer, education is impacted, and young people can live with body image issues and late effects that last way beyond their cancer.
Through the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust’s sailing and outdoor adventures, young people gain a new sense of purpose and self-worth, rediscover their independence, and feel optimistic about what comes next in life. They realise what they are capable of, stop feeling like ‘the only one’, and their mental wellbeing improves.
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is there for anyone who needs somewhere to turn, no matter how long off treatment they are. Visit ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org or follow @emctrust on social media.
