Paxton Lakes 24 Hour Race supporting the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust

Paxton Lakes Sailing Club invites you to join in with 43rd running of our annual 24 hour race. This year we will be supporting the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a national organisation that gives young people between the ages of 8-24 who are in recovery from cancer the opportunity to take part in the new and fantastic experience of sailing. The majority of our young people who sail for the first time have finished treatment and are in the process of putting their lives back together. The Trust was launched by the internationally-renowned sailor Ellen MacArthur on 2nd January 2003. In Ellen's words: "These are really special kids. In many ways they are just they same as everyone else, they are interested in the same things as kids their age, they have the same goals in life, but the difference is that they do this with a huge challenge ahead of them."

Every penny makes a difference to this charity:

• £24.00 pays for the food and drink for one young person during their trip with the Trust
• £120.00 pays for the travel for one young person to join the group
• £300.00 pays for one young person to return for another trip with the Trust
• £480.00 pays for one young person to go on a 4 day sailing trip for the first time

Paxton Lakes hopes to raise as many pennies as we can, through our event. Once again we are including a Juniors race within the main event. This will be for teams whose members are aged 18 years and under at the start of the race. This is a great opportunity for youngsters to experience the fun of night sailing.

There will be a BBQ on the Saturday evening and breakfast Sunday morning along with snacks, cold drinks and the all important caffeinated tea and coffee available throughout the event. Camping is available on site and is included within your team's entry.

The race will be held under the ISAF rules, RYA rules and PLSC instructions. The event is open to monohull dinghies up to 17'6" in length with an official PY handicap or PLSC club handicap. It is a team race where teams typically vary from three or four for a single-handed dinghy up to say ten for a double-handed dinghy. Sailors will take it in turns to sail their team's boat and when not sailing, race duties such as time keeping, safety boat and galley, are carried out by team members.

Entry this year will be per sailor taking part. At least 75% of your entry fee will go direct to the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. The entry fee will be £25.00 per adult and £10:00 per Junior (18 or under at race start). We will also have sponsorship forms available in the clubhouse or online to raise more.

Prizes will be awarded for 1st team, 1st visiting team, 1st local team and 1st junior team.

I do hope that you will be able to enter a team. Entry forms are available from the Clubhouse or online. We appreciate that it is often difficult to set a team in advance so we do accept that teams can be changed on the day. Also if you would like to take part but do not have a team, get in touch with us and we can find you a team to join.

For more details please visit our website www.paxtonlakes.org.uk or email