The Ellen MacArthur Trust had received a fantastic donation from the Yarmouth One Design yacht class.
The class proudly presented a cheque for £14,166 to The Ellen MacArthur Trust on Saturday during the class’s recent annual dinner at the Royal Solent Yacht Club.
Each year the yacht class nominate a worthy charity. This year the money raised came from proceeds from the yacht class summer Towers Party – hosted in August by John Caulcutt – and a generous personal donation made by Michael Barnard. The yacht class dinner was attended by over 70 guests including Commodore Peter Jennings, John Caulcutt and Frank Fletcher, who received the cheque on behalf of The Ellen MacArthur Trust.
Ellen, who was unable to make the dinner as she was in Spain promoting the Barcelona World Race, said “I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone at the Yarmouth One Design Yacht Class for raising this money for the Trust. I know that it will make a huge difference to the lives of so many children who join us and enable us to take even more children out on the water in the next 12 months. These trips really do make such a difference to these kids and I cannot thank you enough for your continued support”.
Launched by Ellen MacArthur in 2003, the Trust takes young people aged between 8-18 sailing to help them regain their confidence on their way to recovery from cancer, leukaemia and other serious illness. The money raised will help The Ellen MacArthur Trust – the official charity to Skandia Cowes Week for 2006-2008 – take more young people suffering from cancer and leukaemia sailing in 2007.
The charity is based on the Isle of Wight, run their trips from UKSA in Cowes and every year take children from the Island sailing who are recovering from cancer and leukaemia.
Chris Temple, Captain of the yacht class, said ‘‘this year's party raised a record sum. We are delighted to support The Ellen MacArthur Trust and we welcome their young sailors to the Royal Solent Yacht Club when they visit Yarmouth.”