The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust has announced the purchase of their first yacht based in Scotland, thanks to the generous support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
In January, the Trust, which also has a base in Cowes, received an additional £200,000 from players of People’s Postcode Lottery to invest into a yacht to improve their operations at their newest base in Largs, Scotland, which opened in early 2013. This generous award from players will allow the Trust to better support young people from the North of England and Scotland with mobility issues resulting from their cancer treatment.
The successful Largs base is now in its third summer of operations, however, so far the trips have been run using chartered vessels which has limited the Trust’s flexibility and has an ongoing cost.
Frank Fletcher, Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust Chief Executive explained:
“This new yacht will allow us to provide a better experience for our young people with mobility issues from Northern England and Scotland. It will also make operations more cost efficient as the number of vessels needing to be chartered will be reduced”.
Clara Govier, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said:
“Players of People’s Postcode Lottery are delighted the money raised by them will be making such a massive impact to the lives of young people recovering from cancer. Players have now raised an amazing £750,000 for Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust since 2013 to help this fantastic charity deliver their work”.
After careful consideration and advice and support from Ancasta, the largest yacht brokers in Europe, a Beneteau Oceanis 45 was selected as the most suitable yacht for the Trust’s needs. This was due to specific design features of this yacht such as a stern which lowers to pontoon level and its steady cruising capabilities, ideal for young people whose mobility has suffered as result of their cancer.
Frank expressed the charity’s gratitude:
“The Trust would like to thank the players of People’s Postcode Lottery for allowing us this opportunity and also for their long term continued support; it has and will continue to make a lasting impact on the experience of many of our young people.
“We would also like to thank Ancasta and Beneteau for supporting the Trust in this purchase, through the discount they provided and the care they have taken in the process to ensure that the needs of our young people are met. In particular a big thank you to Nick Griffith the Managing Director of Ancasta who, without his support this would not have been possible.”
The newly purchased Beneteau has now made its way to Hamble, on the south coast, where Hamble Yachts Services Refit & Repair will further adapt the boat to suit the young people’s disabilities. Key modifications such as the fitting of extra hand rails and altering the cabin space to make a more accessible social area will be made ready to join the Trust trips starting in spring 2017.
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a national organisation set up 13 years ago by internationally renowned yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur that gives young people in recovery from cancer the opportunity to take part in sailing trips to rebuild their confidence. The Trust works with every young person Principal Treatment Centre in the UK and a growing number of Designated Units in the UK. It receives no government funding and relies entirely on voluntary donations to provide sailing trips free of charge to the young people.
