Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust proud to be North Sails Cowes Week official charity
by Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust 25 Jul 14:02 BST
31 July - 8 August 2026
There will be public tours of Solent Hero during Cowes Week © Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust
The countdown is on to North Sails Cowes Week next week (Friday 31 July - Saturday 8 August) and the East Cowes-based Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is proud to be the Official Charity on the event's 200th anniversary.
The charity will be in amongst the festivities, with a host of fun activities taking place across the week, all while raising awareness and fundraising to inspire young people living through and beyond cancer to believe in a brighter future.
On Trinity Landing, the charity is holding public tours of its specially adapted Beneteau Oceanis 45, Solent Hero. This is a rare chance to step aboard and see how the boat opens sailing up to young people, many of whom experience significant and enduring physical and/or cognitive impacts following cancer treatment.
It's also an opportunity to meet some of the incredible Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust skippers and volunteers, who have all seen first-hand the transformation young people go through on the charity's free trips and will be sharing memorable stories from their adventures.
At the start of the week, a thrilling fundraiser will see Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust friends, supporters and team take part in a hair-raising mast climb challenge. Once at the top of Solent Hero's mast, each brave climber will have 10 minutes to raise £200 by calling friends and family. You can help these fearless fundraisers down by coming along to watch and donating too.
There will be a scavenger hunt across Cowes involving 11 local businesses. Explorers can collect a card with clues at the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust stand on the Parade, which will lead them to different stores on the high street. Each will have a letter in the window. Once all the letters have been collected, unscramble them to reveal a secret word or phrase to be in with the chance of winning an awesome hamper of items donated by local shops.
And you can come meet the team, find out more about the charity, buy Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust goodies, and play games at the charity's stand in the Race Village on the Parade. The team will be on site 10am - 5:30pm from Friday 31 July until Saturday 8 August.
Frank Fletcher, CEO of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, said:
"Sailing and the outdoors give young people the freedom and sense of possibility they need after the devastation of cancer. They start to believe in themselves again and look forward to what's next in life.
"Everyone who enjoys North Sails Cowes Week understands the power and potential sailing has, and with their support, more young people living through and beyond cancer will feel inspired to believe in a brighter future."
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust inspires young people aged 8-24 to believe in a brighter future after the trauma of cancer treatment. For many young people picking up where they left off before their diagnosis just isn't possible. That's why when treatment ends, the charity's work begins.
For more information visit www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org or follow @emctrust across social media.