Please select your home edition
Edition
Musto 2023 HPX LEADERBOARD

Dame Ellen MacArthur's cancer charity names its Volunteer of the Year for 2023

by Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust 29 Mar 16:14 GMT
One of the Trust's flagship yachts, Solent Hero © Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust

After previously being supported by the charity himself, Martin Graham has been named volunteer of the year by Dame Ellen MacArthur's cancer charity for 'exemplifying the very essence of dedication and generosity'.

Martin, 31, from Antrim, was announced as the recipient of the award by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust on Saturday (23 March) at the charity's annual training day for its volunteers.

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.

Martin was inspired to volunteer with the charity following the support he received from it when he was younger. In 2014, he sailed from Largs in Scotland after treatment for sarcoma in his leg, a kind of bone cancer.

After benefitting from two more sailing adventures in 2015 and 2017 from East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, he became a volunteer and now, as well as joining young cancer survivors on board the charity's yachts, he also dedicates his time to travelling with them to ensure they get to the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust's bases and back home safely.

Speaking about his favourite part of volunteering, Martin said: "I really love the difference it makes to young people. Those at the charity who know me know I was supported by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust myself as a young person, a good ten years ago. I know first-hand the impact that it has."

He was commended for his dedication to getting young people to the location of trips, despite not always being able to attend the adventures himself. This once involved a flight from Belfast to Birmingham with a young person, then to the south of Wales where he accompanied three more young people, followed by an onward journey to the Isle of Wight to join a separate sailing trip, all in one day.

He emphasised the importance of this part of volunteering at the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust: "There may be cases where if I don't travel with young people, they won't be able to go on the trip and get the benefit of meeting others like them who have gone through the same thing. If I can do anything to help on that journey, I absolutely will.

"There have been several occasions where I've brought young people from across the country to their trip and picked them up again at the end of the week, having not joined them myself. Which is great in some ways because you get to see the difference it makes to them in the space of a week."

Martin was nominated for the award by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust community, which includes the young people the charity supports, other volunteers, and its staff team.

One nomination said: "He was such an incredible volunteer this year, going above and beyond. I was astounded by his ability to step in last minute with mammoth travel responsibilities and to join a trip, and he did it all with a smile on his face and his cool, calm manner. I can't name one thing that makes him stand out as he just does so much for other people."

Presenting Martin with the award, Frank Fletcher, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust's CEO, said: "This year our Volunteer of the Year has exemplified the very essence of dedication and generosity. His unwavering commitment to going above and beyond the call of duty was recognised by all members of the judging panel.

"Martin's selflessness has made a profound impact, ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to experience our trips. His presence on our boats is led by his genuine care and concern for others. His dedication to our cause has been nothing short of extraordinary, and for that, we are eternally grateful."

When a young person gets the 'all clear', their whole world has changed. What happens after treatment can be as difficult as the treatment itself, if not even more so.

Because of cancer's impact on their mental wellbeing, simply picking up where they left off before their diagnosis just isn't possible for many young people.

At this stage in life, cancer often leads to lower educational achievement, relationship and friendships difficulties, body image issues, and/or ongoing late effects, such as extreme fatigue, infertility, osteoporosis, thyroid problems and hearing or vision loss.

Adjusting to this 'new normal' can be extremely difficult and isolating, which is why when treatment ends, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust's work begins.

Through the charity's sailing and outdoor adventures, young people laugh, gain a new sense of purpose and self-worth, rediscover their independence, and feel optimism for the future. They realise what they are capable of and stop feeling like 'the only one'. They start to re-establish their purpose and place in the world and believe in a brighter future.

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust's Luke Gilbert Volunteer of the Year Award was introduced in 2017 in celebration of the charity's legendary volunteer. Luke's incredible personality, sense of humour, enthusiasm, compassion and huge amount of fun made him an inspiration to everyone he met. The annual award winners will have demonstrated all the qualities Luke embodied.

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is there for anyone looking for support, no matter how long off treatment they are. Visit www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org or follow @emctrust on social media.

Related Articles

Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust Christmas appeal
Launched during 'challenging time for all charities' Dame Ellen MacArthur's cancer charity is asking for your support this Christmas to help even more young survivors get on the water for much needed support in 2025. Posted on 15 Nov
Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust's biggest summer yet
Supporting 671 young cancer survivors nationwide The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is celebrating its biggest summer yet, after supporting 671 young cancer survivors nationwide. Posted on 28 Sep
Dame Ellen MacArthur's cancer charity racing day
Brighter Futures Sailing Day fundraising event in Cowes Some of the stars of world sailing came out to support young people living through and beyond cancer at the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust's exclusive Brighter Futures Sailing Day fundraising event in May, generously sponsored by Ancasta. Posted on 5 Jun
Young cancer survivors to join sailing adventures
With Dame Ellen MacArthur's charity this summer Hundreds of young cancer survivors from across the UK are looking forward to inspirational sailing adventures this summer, as the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust gets set for its biggest year yet. Posted on 25 May
Devon marine artist donates stunning painting
To raise money for Dame Ellen MacArthur's cancer trust A Devon marine artist who is inspired by the energy and excitement of sailing is raffling off one of her stunning works to raise money for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. Posted on 5 May
Emotional reunion for Dame Ellen MacArthur
With one of the first young people to ever sail with her cancer charity Dame Ellen MacArthur, founder and patron of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, has had a profound 20-year reunion with one of the first young people her charity ever supported in 2003. Posted on 4 Dec 2023
RS Association supports cancer survivors
Dedicated fundraising support for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust Young cancer survivors supported by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust have benefited from the RS Association's dedicated fundraising support throughout the year, raising over £2,700 across numerous events in 2023. Posted on 28 Nov 2023
Young cancer survivor inspires shirt design
Musto competition for Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust Lucie Matthews has been announced winner of the national Musto competition to design the official 2024 t-shirt for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, the charity that supported her following cancer treatment. Posted on 13 Nov 2023
Volunteers Mates wanted to join sailing adventures
Last call for Dame Ellen MacArthur's cancer trust The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is looking for volunteer Mates to inspire young people living through and beyond cancer to believe in a brighter future, and the deadline for applications is fast approaching. Posted on 11 Oct 2023
Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust looking for Mates
Applications to volunteer at Dame Ellen MacArthur's cancer charity on sailing adventures now open The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is looking for volunteer Mates for their four- and five-day sailing adventures from the Isle of Wight and Scotland's west coast in 2024. Posted on 27 Sep 2023