About us

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a national charity that 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.

Our ‘WHY’

Every day around 12 young people under 25 are diagnosed with cancer.

What happens after treatment can be as difficult as, if not even more so, than the treatment itself. This is not discussed or understood as much as it should be.

Cancer can have a big impact on a young person’s mental well-being beyond treatment.

When a young person gets the ‘all clear', there is an expectation of happiness and returning to ‘normal’. But what is their ‘normal’ now? Their whole world has changed. The future can feel daunting and overwhelming.

Cancer in young people often leads to lower educational achievement, relationship and friendship difficulties, body image issues, and/or ongoing late effects, such as extreme fatigue, infertility, osteoporosis, thyroid problems, and hearing or vision loss.

For many young people simply picking up where they left off before their diagnosis just isn’t possible. That is why when treatment ends our work begins.

We must be here for every young person who needs us.

Support over time

Once a young person has sailed with the Trust for the first time, they can stay involved, either by returning for further annual trips or, if they are aged 18+, by becoming a volunteer to support other young people like them.

Thank you for supporting the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

To find out more about the Trust and the impact of your support check out our YouTube channel or visit our website