Often the young people that sail with us have spent long periods of time in hospital and can be suffering from low self-esteem on top of missing out on large chunks of their childhood. Studies into the psychological effects of cancer in children highlight how important positive personal relationships with others are in facilitating coping with cancer. They also state how difficult it is for the children (especially teens) to establish independence and a sense of control over their lives and maintain a sense of personal worth. The emphasis of our trips is on teamwork and fun, with sailing as the perfect catalyst.  Sailing offers a new experience in a small and intimate environment, which gives the young people the space to assert themselves without the chance of getting lost in the group.

There are many issues for all young people that revolve around body image, but these are magnified for those who have been through treatment, particularly when reaching teenage years.  The treatments for cancer can include side effects such as temporary hair loss and weight gain as well as permanent effects like scarring, amputation or brain damage, and the result can often manifest itself in very low self-esteem.  When the young people come on our trips they aren’t alone in having no hair, or a scar on their leg, and it becomes much less of an issue.  Everyone on their trip will have been through a similar experience and generally understand better than any of their friends from home what its like to go though such a life-changing experience as cancer, often offering advice and support.

These trips can be a huge step forward in regaining the independence often lost during long periods of hospitalisation.  This can be especially significant if the young person was diagnosed having just reached puberty, the time when they were beginning to assert themselves to the world.  At that point, to subsequently find yourself having to rely on parents or nurses for everything you need can be incredibly hard to accept, and this is on top of dealing with a life threatening illness.  The highlight of many people’s trips is cooking for themselves, and these small steps, along with the larger ones like being in control of a 42’ yacht, help move the young person forward from the feeling of ‘institutionalisation’ the hospital can sometimes leave on them, helping to establish the attitude that they can actually achieve a lot, and more importantly achieve it by themselves. 

There have also been conclusions drawn from studies into the characteristics and value of sail training for young people. These state that trainees develop confidence in themselves, and strongly suggest that the increase in social confidence that they gain has long lasting effects.

These independent studies into the psychological effects of cancer in children and the values of sail training for young people highlight the long term positive impact the Ellen MacArthur Trust trips can have on the challenges that children with cancer and leukaemia face.