More and more people’s lives are being touched by cancer.

20 years ago my father died of undiagnosed cancer.  We only found out that it was cancer when they carried out an autopsy.

6 years ago a close friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer, and fortunately after an operation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy she has recovered and was given a clean bill of health a few weeks ago.

Last year my sister in law died from ovarian cancer, a particularly unpleasant cancer.  She was 50.

Last week I heard that another close friend of mine, he was best man at my wedding 29 years ago, has only months possibly weeks to live, he has cancer through his bone marrow and there is nothing that they can do.  He also has secondary throat cancer.  He currently spends all his time in bed – he has not the strength to do anything else

He died at 06:45 on Sunday the 10th of August.

I recently heard that the wife of somebody I worked with for 5 years in the late 1980s years died of breast cancer.

As a result of my involvement with these cancer stories, I would like to raise some money towards cancer research, and to this end I am looking for sponsors for a single handed sail round Ailsa Craig.

I sailed single handed roundArran a few years ago and raised about £150 for Cancer Research.

Sailing round Ailsa Craig is more demanding than roundArran as it is in much more open water, and there are no easy boltholes on the way. 

I will be attempting this journey over the weekend starting Friday the 15th of August.  If the weather is unsuitable that weekend I will postpone the trip until a fortnight later, and a fortnight after that if necessary. 

All money donated will go to Cancer Research - any expenses associated with this trip will be paid for by myself. 

If you would rather you can of course just give money to me and I will forward it to Cancer Research at http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/ 

Thank you. 

Pete Cooper