Q11 Challenge
Page creator: Mary Falk
Page closes: 31st Dec 2009
Fundraising Page Image
Mary sailing QII
About the charity : The Institute of Cancer Research & Everyman The Institute of Cancer Research & Everyman
1 in 3 people will suffer some form of cancer during their life. The Institute of Cancer research is the only UK charity directly involved in every stage of research to combat all cancers. Alongside their pioneering work in breast and lung cancers they run the Everyman Campaign to raise awareness of testicular and prostate cancer and funds for Europe's first and only centre dedicated to their research.
Charity Registration No icr(exempt)
Fundraising target:  £100,000.00
Donations so far:  £ 83,924.41
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Personal message:

I have now completed my three year QII Challenge with a class win in the 2008 Petit Bateau Solo Channel Race Week.

I underwent lengthy and debilitating treatment for breast cancer in 2005 and 2006.  I then embarked on a mission to raise money for The Institute of Cancer Research and to demonstrate that there can be life after cancer by taking part in the Petit Bateau Solo Channel Race Week only shortly after  the completion of my seven months of treatment. I took part on the basis that it would be a fantastic achievement if someone as old (I was then 60) and ill as me made it round the course. In the event to my amazement and delight I finished 2nd in Class and raised over £40,000 for The ICR. Spurred on by that success I took part in Petit Bateau's 2007 Solo Race and raised a further £20,000 and again achieved 2nd in Class.

This year's racing has proved more of a challenge than I was expecting. Originally I had intended to complete Petit Bateau's bluQube Solo 1000. I won my class in the first of the three legs of that race and was leading my class over halfway through the second leg in the middle of the Bay of Biscay when my self steering, spare self steering and all my navigational instruments such as GPS, log and depth sounder packed up. This forced me to retire and after a dramatic sail of over 100 miles I safely negotiated the rock strewn coast of Brittany in a full gale after two sleepless nights and, despite being unable to leave the helm without selfsteering and despite the lack of instruments, arrived safely at Camaret, near Brest. I then scarcely drew breath before sailing direct back to Lymington where, instead of the rest which I longed for, I rushed into preparations for the Channel Race. I made it to the start and am on top of the world to have proceeded to round off my QII Challenge with a Class win.

It feels great to have proved that there can be life after cancer, and a pretty full life at that. And by rasing money for The ICR I want to ensure that others can benefit from The ICR's lifesaving work.

Please help me to reach my £100,000 target. I pay all the costs of maintaining and equipping QII, and her racing costs, myself so 100% of donations to the QII Challenge go direct to The Institute of Cancer Research.

Please follow the simple instructions to donate securely and efficiently online. Please feel free to donate whatever sum you like: the sums suggested below are merely suggestions. And if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you. Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. I am hugely grateful for your support.


Many thanks for your support.

"Mary is an inspiration to anyone who sails and I call on everyone to support her in trying to raise funds for research at the Institute of Cancer Research"
Ellen MacArthur
Skipper B&Q Trimaran


"The Petit Bateau Race is an event that demands skill, determination, and spirit - all of which Mary has in abundance. I wish her the greatest success in this challenging venture, and in her fundraising for The Institute of Cancer Research"
Clare Francis

"Having recently lost a member of the family to cancer I am well aware how common it is and the dreadful consequences that it brings. Research is what it needs and I hope that everyone who sails or who enjoys watching sailing will join me in sponsoring Mary in this fantastic challenge."
Pete Goss

Display Name Date Amount Tax Bonus  Comment
anonymous 30/08/2008 £100.00 £28.21 Such tremendous pluck, skill and determination. You are showing us all how to live. 
Lizzie Davies-Hamon 13/08/2008 £25.00 £7.05 Well done from Philippe's little sister! 
Aileen Smith 01/07/2008 £100.00 £28.21 You're an inspiration! 
Isobel 21/06/2008 £10.00 n/a Go Mary go! 
Stuart Melsom 07/06/2008 £100.00 £28.21 go for it! 
Alan Appleby 04/03/2008 £30.00 £8.46 Great little skis thanks. Good luck in the race. 
Jeannie & Russ 26/09/2007 £100.00 n/a ...and this is for 2008...! 
Jeannie & Russ 26/09/2007 £100.00 n/a Well done you, keep it up!  
Nigel and Anne Henley 24/08/2007 £25.00 £7.05 with our love and many congratulations 
Marco Nannini 09/08/2007 £50.00 £14.10 What a fantastic race was pb2007! 
Bernie 17/07/2007 £10.00 £2.82  
Richard 15/07/2007 £5.00 £1.41 Good luck! Thank you for the tour of QII in Weymouth 
Mike Jaques 10/07/2007 £100.00 £28.21  
anonymous 09/07/2007 £100.00 n/a  
Gill Stewart 06/07/2007 £20.00 £5.64 Wishing you both: Fair Winds and Blue Skies 
Andy Ash-Vie 02/07/2007 £50.00 £14.10 All the best from the team at Harken 
Clare 12/06/2007 £20.00 £5.64 Good luck Mike & Mary 
Stuart Brand 11/06/2007 £100.00 £28.21  
Phil 08/06/2007 £20.00 £5.64 All the best Mike & Mary on the QII Challenge 
Lesley Charters 07/06/2007 £20.00 £5.64 All the best Mike. Hope you meet your target.x 
Susan & Norman Ellis 07/06/2007 £10.00 £2.82  
Mark 28/05/2007 £20.00 £5.64  
Malcolm Raiser 18/03/2007 £50.00 £14.10  
Christine Warren 22/01/2007 £20.00 n/a Bon Contiunation Mary, pleasure to meet you on the Akademik Joffe recently 
John and Gaby 15/10/2006 £25.00 £7.05 Congratulations Mary, from a pair of fair-weather sailors just along the pontoon from you (G17) 
Colin A. Chapman 25/09/2006 £100.00 n/a Well done on and off the water in a good cause 
Mary Ross nee Jones 14/09/2006 £10.00 n/a Are you the Mary Falk who lived in Tudor House Rugby in 1950's where I worked? 
Jason & Judy Payne-James 12/09/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Well done on your success in the Petit Bateau Mary, an inspiration to us all 
Jill Storey 11/09/2006 £100.00 £28.21  
An OCC member 04/09/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Full of admiration 
C Purdy 02/09/2006 £50.00 £14.10  
Jenny Oakshott 31/08/2006 £50.00 £14.10 well done Mary, you are an inspiration for me! 
anonymous 31/08/2006 £25.00 £7.05 full of admiration for your achievement 
Nick Martin 31/08/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Mary, (Diablo-j Petit-Bateau), well done to you on this great cause and on your tremendous result!! 
Paul Peggs 31/08/2006 £100.00 £28.21 You where the real winner  
Bob and Di 28/08/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Many congratulations. Never doubted you would do it! 
Liz & Mike Taylor-Jones 28/08/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Congratulations on a great and brave achievement 
John & Sarah Loden 28/08/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Congratulation on your fantastic PB result 
Peter & Emma (QSDG) 18/08/2006 £50.00 n/a Bon voyage Mary 
Jane and Ian Gawn 18/08/2006 £25.00 £7.05 Go for it! Mary 
stephen glass 11/08/2006 £10.00 £2.82 with you all the way mary 
Kate Newton 08/08/2006 £20.00 £5.64 Good luck and bon voyage! 
Celia Foulkes(Jenkins) 08/08/2006 £20.00 £5.64 How exciting Mary Good Luck and well done  
Jane Hogan 08/08/2006 £15.00 n/a The very best of luck 
Ian & Scilla 02/08/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Good luck Mary 
CLIVE MARTIN 27/07/2006 £100.00 £28.21 HOLD ON TIGHT! 
Joy 25/07/2006 £20.00 £5.64 Good Luck, Mary 
An OCC member 12/07/2006 £20.00 £5.64  
anonymous 10/07/2006 £25.00 £7.05 Go for it; we'll try and follow your course 
Anne 03/07/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Good luck, and hoping to see you in Falmouth this summer 
Diana Holder and Donald McHardy 13/06/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Sail fast Mary, we'll see you at the finish in Mylor. 
Rod Knowles 07/06/2006 £25.00 £7.05  
Nick Ryley 06/06/2006 £50.00 £14.10 If in doubt ease sheets out 
Isobel Falk 19/05/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Good luck Aunt Mary!  
Linda Williams 18/05/2006 £100.00 n/a GOOD LUCK ! 
Charles & Alison Allen 12/05/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Well done Mary, our best wishes go with you for PB06 
George Curtis 09/05/2006 £50.00 £14.10 The very best of luck to you, Mary 
Gillian 02/05/2006 £20.00 n/a wishing you all the strength and courage you deserve 
Kate 28/04/2006 £20.00 £5.64 Such a brave lady - with hopes for fair winds and sunny days 
DAVID AND ANNETTE 27/04/2006 £50.00 £14.10 KEEP THE SLIMY SIDE DOWN, AS THE AUSSIES SAY 
Alan Taylor 19/04/2006 £100.00 n/a Don't forget your OCC burgee!  
Luke 03/04/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Good luck to you, Mary. 
Karl 27/03/2006 £20.00 £5.64 Good luck 
Ed Reeves 15/03/2006 £100.00 £28.21 Best of luck Mary 
Mike and Gill 08/03/2006 £30.00 £8.46  
Terry Gerald 08/03/2006 £25.00 £7.05 Goog luck! 
Michael Swann 15/02/2006 £25.00 £7.05  
Charlotte & Struan, Emily, Magnus & Alan 05/02/2006 £100.00 n/a Happy sailing on the "seas of life" (with wonder, wine optional) 
Annette & Nigel Southward 31/01/2006 £50.00 £14.10 We know you will succeed 
Emma and Eric 24/01/2006 £20.00 £5.64  
Jeremy Waters 15/01/2006 £25.00 £7.05 Fair winds, Mary, on the water and in life. 
Geoff Holmes 13/01/2006 £50.00 £14.10 Sail fast, Mary 
Andrew Hunt 08/01/2006 £100.00 £28.21  
Rose Larter 03/01/2006 £10.00 £2.82  
Simon and Kitty 30/12/2005 £50.00 £14.10  
Kate 22/12/2005 £10.00 £2.82 Good luck Mary! 
Ruth Standring 21/12/2005 £10.00 £2.82 Women like you are so inspiring! Good luck with the treatment and the Challenge. 
Debbie Bird 21/12/2005 £5.00 £1.41 Great cause, good luck 
John Priestley 20/12/2005 £50.00 £14.10 Bon Voyage Mary 
Eliza Hunt 20/12/2005 £25.00 £7.05  
Doug Hall 20/12/2005 £20.00 £5.64 Bon voyage! 
Rachel Efetha 20/12/2005 £10.00 £2.82 Mary, the very best of luck, kind regards Rachel Efetha 
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*Total donated online: £3,950.00
Total Gift Aid reclaimed: £881.41
Amount raised offline: £79,093.00
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