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Last week, we heard from Amber, who had a multi-year experience with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and now she was looking forward to whatever comes her way in life.  This week, we're talking with Sophia, who came sailing with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust for the first time this summer. It's one of our most in-depth episodes yet: Sophia generously talks about her diagnosis, the isolation of treatment, the need for support after treatment ends.  She stresses the importance of talking to people with a diagnosis, even if it's hard.  And how a sailing adventure wasn't one big thing, but lots of little things - the journey, the new friends, being among the outdoors, learning together - that made a big difference.

It's been a while - hello! In this episode, we catch up with Amber, who came sailing in Largs every year from 2023-2025.  Now that her time with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is complete, it was the perfect opportunity to look back over it all. What did it all mean, how did it change her, what has she taken with her?  It's a deep dive into Amber's story, beginning with her diagnosis and taking us up to today, and how the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust shaped her destination.  We chat too about the monthly mental wellbeing sessions she joined with our friends at Mind Over Cancer, applications for which are still open until 18 September 2026. Find out details at ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org.

Ever wondered what happens at one of our volunteer training days? Here to tell you everything about 2024's training event, which was held towards the end of March in Birmingham, are Volunteer & Team Development Manager Krissi and newly anointed Luke Gilbert Volunteer of the Year Martin.  They tell us everything from the vibes on the day to what they got out of it, and about the importance of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging playing such a big factor in the event.  And of course we talk about Martin's Volunteer of the Year win too!

About a year ago, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust launched Bigger Impact, Brighter Futures - Our Ambitions 2023-2025. So, how are we doing? Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust CEO Frank Fletcher, Communications Manager Karenza, and Operations Manager in Largs James chat about the last 12 months, what progress has been made on the Ambitions, and what the future has in store.  These Ambitions help us keep track of how we are doing so we can keep learning and improving.  Most importantly, they put inspiring young people to believe in a brighter future at the heart of everything we do. Read the accompanying blog here: https://www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org/news/ambitions-23-25-year1

Since Hana was diagnosed with cancer, since she came sailing with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, life has been a whirlwind.  On this episode of Sound Waves, she talks about her passion for environmentalism and how her diagnosis made her think of the Earth’s ill health too. In the last few years, she has been a voice of youth at international conferences, including the COPs. She tells us about the challenges of being diagnosed during her studies, how stays in hospital gave her time to research the climate crisis, and how the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust spurred her on to do even more for the planet's future.

At the end of a trip, some young people talk to us about their week.  We ask them about their time with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, how it’s helped, what they’ll take with them.  Their words are all over our website, our social media, Inspire magazine, and everything we do.  The voices of young people are essential in telling the story of the Trust. They are the reason for everything we do.  This episode is just a small snippet of summer 2023, about community and feeling understood. This is what it's all about.  Thank you to:  Izzy Shaheed Emily Dylan Omar Gabby & Mufaro Sam Joe & Luke Victoria Sophie & Shell And everyone who told us their story this year. See you in 2024!

You might have seen that Dame Ellen MacArthur, our patron and founder, recently met up with a young woman called Maxine, who was part of the first ever Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust sailing adventure 20 years ago in 2003.  She was just 10 at the time, and now she’s reunited with Ellen ahead of her 31st birthday. This episode, in celebration of the Trust's 20th anniversary, is their conversation. It's wonderful to hear Maxine talk about the impact of a sailing adventure 20 years ago and how it’s shaped her life ever since. Ellen also shares how and why the Trust was set up in 2003, and where the inspiration for the charity came from. The things we can do to support young people living through and beyond cancer now, today, can change the years and decades ahead of them. As Ellen says in this conversation with Maxine, this is what it’s all about.

Happy Pride month! It's important to understand how someone's cancer diagnosis intersects with their LGBTQ identity. Both are significant, both have their own communities, and there are bridges that can be built between the two.  Three Trust graduate volunteers - Amelia, Ivans, Louise - share their experiences with cancer and being part of the LGBTQ community, and why taking people as they are entirely, as their genuine selves, matters so much. They also discuss being part of the Trust community and how essential safe and inclusive spaces are for people to feel a sense of acceptance, especially while living through and beyond cancer.

Our ‘Build Belonging’ Ambition says we will ‘be visible, relevant and accessible to every young person who has a cancer diagnosis in the UK and be somewhere every one feels they belong.’  It is so important young people feel they belong when they come on a Trust adventure. But what does 'belonging' mean? It is hard to put your finger on. You know it when you feel it, and we seek it out in our lives.  Lauren was supported by the Trust for a few years before going on to become a volunteer. She's been supported and now does the supporting; she's felt that belonging and sees it in others too. She shares what it looks like for her, why it matters, and how the Trust is currently getting it right.

It's the Trust's 20th birthday in July. What better reason to sit down with CEO Frank Fletcher, who's been involved since day 1, and have a gab about the last 20 years.  From supporting five young people in 2003, to over 700 in 2023, so much has happened, so much has changed, and we talk all about it here. It's the longest episode in Sound Waves history, yet it could have been ten times longer.  There are so many stories to tell, and we sincerely hope you enjoy hearing about just some of them.

Trip season is upon us! It goes without saying, but we cannot wait.  In this episode, Luke and Heather reflect on their first-time trips, while looking forward to returning this summer for Round the Island Race.  What difference have sailing trips made to their lives so far? Why do they want to come back for more? How does it feel being on the water with others who are 'in the same boat'?  Whether you are looking for some pre-season hype, or you are coming along for the first time and want to feel reassured, Heather and Luke are here to share their memories and their excitement with you. Are you ready for our 2023 season? We are!

What we do and the difference we make aren't the same thing. Sailing is lovely, but at the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, we want young people to feel better at the end of their time with us than they did at the start. That's what impact is.  Joining us in this episode are Omar and Jess. Omar came on his first four-day sailing adventure with the Trust last year, and he tells us about the impact he felt across that week and afterwards when he went back home.  Jess has been with the Trust for some time, she was first supported 11 years ago, and has since become a volunteer and makes up part of the Trust’s Youth Advisory Group. She has seen impact happen across years of supporting young people who have returned for multiple trips.  Also joining us is Karenza, the Trust’s communications manager. She has played a central role in making our 'Drive Impact' ambition come to life, and talks about how we plan on doing that to deliver better support for all young people. She also explains how our new impact dashboard works, which lets you see the impact we are having on young people in real time.

It was a night to remember when Dame Ellen MacArthur launched 'Bigger Impact, Brighter Futures - Our Ambitions for 2023-2025' at the start of March. These Ambitions detail how we plan to reach, inspire, and support more young people than ever before over the next three years. In this episode you will hear from people who were there that evening and who couldn't be more excited about what the future of the Trust looks like.  Head to https://www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org/ to read more about our Ambitions and discover the impact dashboard talked about in this episode.  Featuring: - Founder and patron Dame Ellen MacArthur - Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust CEO Frank Fletcher - Bhav, Isla and Emily, who recently became volunteers for the Trust having previously been supported by us - Rachel Kirby-Rider and Kate Collins, CEOs of Young Lives vs Cancer and Teenage Cancer Trust respectively - Chair of our Board of Trustees and paediatric oncologist at Birmingham Children's Hospital Dr Dave Hobin - Founder and Programme Leader at New Ways Letetia Gibson

When young people share their stories, they let others know that they're not alone in how they are feeling or what they are going through.  That's why we speak to so many young people when they are here on trips: it's their voices that matter the most.  This episode is made up of snippets from those conversations. It's about how young people feel, what they think, what they are looking for.  Thank you to: Callum Nicole Lucy Roisin Charlie Griff Chrissy Amber Kieran John Sara

The Trust aims to be open to everyone who is looking for support, and for some, that isn’t a one-and-done thing.  As young people feel more accepted, independent and optimistic, that might take place across their teenage years or into young adulthood.  First up, 17-year-old Libby tells us about having been supported by the Trust since she was 10. She talks about why she keeps coming back and how her adventures with the Trust continue to provide her with what it is she needs and is looking for.  Then Lucy, the Trust's Lead Return Trips Coordinator, gives an overview of why people come back, what the difference is between first time and return trips, what next year’s new trips look like, and why young people not coming back is also fine too.  Living through and beyond cancer takes time, changes shape, requires different things, and is completely unique to everyone. We want to be there for when we’re needed, and what young people need is different year on year.