Round the Island - Charity Challenge

Once again there will be a charity challenge hitting the water at the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race (19 June 2010). Four cancer charities have each been provided a SailTime Beneteau Oceanis 40 yacht and an experienced skipper and first mate for the race, with the crews aiming to fundraise a combined total of £18,000. The challenge forms part of J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s continued commitment to charitable causes, which has helped raise over £350,000 during their time as title sponsor of the Round the Island Race.

Last year’s race saw the first edition of the challenge with charity ambassadors including Phoenix night’s comedian Dave Spikey joining the sail to help raise over £11,000. This year will be no different as former European and Commonwealth 400m champion Iwan Thomas will fly the flag for Macmillan. Prostate UK will have 18 year old sailor Mike Perham as their skipper, last year he famously entered the record books by becoming the youngest person ever to sail around the world. Whilst Ellen will support her crew on the water aboard another Ellen MacArthur Trust boat.

The remaining crew positions for Prostate UK, The Ellen MacArthur Trust, Breast Cancer Care and Macmillan will contain people who are involved with their specific charity.

The prize at the end is the right to claim the 2010 SailTime Charity Challenge Trophy which will be presented after the race to the winning charity team by triple Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie. The annual J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race, organised by the Island Sailing Club, is a one-day yacht race around the Isle of Wight. The race regularly attracts over 1,700 boats and around 16,000 sailors, making it one of the largest yacht races in the world and the fourth largest participation sporting event in the UK after the London Marathon and the Great North and South Runs. The race is a great opportunity to watch world-renowned sailors racing on an equal basis alongside families and first timers.

The Ellen MacArthur Trust boat taking part in the Challenge will have a crew made up of the family and friends of young people who have previously sailed with the Trust. One of the crew will be Emma Stokes, from Stevenage, she has experienced first-hand the impact the Ellen MacArthur Trust can have on the confidence of young people recovering from cancer and leukaemia when her 16-year-old sister Victoria suffered bone cancer.

Trust Challenge crew member Emma said: “It’s fantastic how the Trust made Victoria feel normal again. The young people can discuss what they've been through without feeling embarrassed and no-one will stare at their thin hair that hasn't fully grown back yet or ask difficult questions. They can just have a lot of fun. I’m so pleased to be able to give something back”

You can support the crew here

Running for the Trust

If you fancy helping the Trust by raising much needed funds and enjoy running here are two events that may be of interest

Bupa Great South Run - Sunday 24th October

The Ellen MacArthur Trust had 75 places in the Bupa Great South Run 2010, Europe’s leading 10 mile road race. This is a fast flat course starting in Southsea, Portsmouth, which takes you past much of Britain’s naval heritage, including HMS Victory and HMS Warrior. Places are being snapped up fast and we have less than 20 left so please contact EMT to register your interest, and receive your online key code to complete your application.

Brighton Marathon Sunday 10th April

We have just secured 10 places in the Brighton Marathon these places are going to go quickly so if your interested don't delay and contact us today.

April Newsletter

We sent out our April e-newsletter today which includes a interview with Ellen, you can read it online here

Articles this month include include an interview with our Patron Dame Ellen MacArthur and a round up of all the news.

If you want to sign up for future e newsletters you can do so here

Update on giving back....

As I mentioned last week One of the key aims of the Ellen MacArthur Trust is to develop those who sail with us into volunteers once they are over 18.

You can read more on how they got on here

Giving Back......

One of the key aims of the Ellen MacArthur Trust is to develop those who sail with us into volunteers once they are over 18. So it's great that we are kicking off this years sailing activity with 15 volunteers who previously sailed with us training this week

The Trust knows from experience that these volunteers who have sailed as young people can provide very positive role models for those sailing for the first time just out of treatment . It also gives our young people the chance to learn more about sailing, and, in their words, to give something back to the Trust and those who are still at the beginning of their recovery journey.

You can read all about the week here http://tinyurl.com/y88jpyh

March Newsletter

We sent out our March e-newsletter today if you missed it you can read it online http://tinyurl.com/ybxmcwp

Articles this month include Daisys case study, an interview with Rachael one of the CLIC Sargent Social workers we work with and a round up of all the news.


If you want to sign up for future e newsletters you can do so here http://tinyurl.com/ybswtmm

Recycle and raise funds for the Trust

You can recycle your old mobile phone or ink cartridges and help the Trust while reducing landfill click here to find out