DAME Ellen MacArthur has shared a big 'thank you' with the many people who have supported her charity throughout the pandemic.
Her gratitude coincides with international Giving Tuesday (today) and is for everyone who has enabled the East Cowes-based Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust to continue supporting young people in recovery from cancer.
Giving Tuesday is an annual global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organisations to transform their communities and the world.
The Ellen MacArthur Trust is a national charity that inspires people aged 8-24 to imagine a future after cancer treatment through sailing and adventure activities.
After Covid scuppered hopes of welcoming up to 750 young people on trips around the UK this year, the Trust ran on and offline activities to support them instead.
Dame Ellen said: “Because of the support we’ve received this year we’ve been able to help young people in recovery from cancer in 2020.
"We haven’t been on the water as usual, but we promised we would still be here for every young person who needed us.
"We’ve been able to engage in activities online and new and innovative programmes that still bring that togetherness, positivity and hope we’ve felt on our Trust trips over the past 17 years.”
Wen Stone, who required almost 150 blood transfusions after being diagnosed with very severe Aplastic Anaemia in 2010, shielded in complete isolation indoors for eleven weeks this spring due to the immune deficiency she lives with post-treatment.
Being able to access Trust support was invaluable to her throughout the year.
She said: “One of the most positive things I've learned is I've got a huge, huge community around me all going through the same storm. We’re not necessarily in the same boat, but we look out for each other.”
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