This in from Suzanne and Alan Whitewood. In their own words. Ed
Isle of Wight based charity The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is planning to have one of its boats at the PSP SOUTHAMPTON BOAT SHOW on berth M574.
Visitors will be able to see the boat and learn about the work of the charity which has its headquarters in East Cowes.
Background of the trust
For anyone not knowing of the work of the trust, The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust takes young people sailing to help them regain their confidence, on their way to recovery from cancer, leukaemia and other serious illness.
This Trust was founded by Dame Ellen MacArthur in 2003, to support young people whose lives and families have been devastated by childhood cancer, are fortunate to be in remission and now have to overcome significant physical disabilities and psychological challenges in order to rebuild their lives.
National Boat Shows’ chosen charities
National Boat Shows, the organiser of the PSP Southampton Boat Show, provide support to a large number of charities, fund-raisers and good causes. Every year, three charities- 1 marine, 1 national and 1 local- are selected to be the official charities of the show.
The Rona Sailing Project
For 2013 the marine charity chosen is The Rona Sailing Project one of the oldest Sail Training organisations in the UK which has been established for over 50 years. In that time, they have taken over 20,000 young people to sea and given them the experience of a lifetime, and the young people have gained greater self-confidence. Apart from a dedicated full-time team of just four, the Project has 400 volunteers, who man the yachts.
Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan Cancer Support has been selected as the national charity as statistics show that 889 people are diagnosed with cancer every day and 26 of those will be in the Hampshire/Isle of Wight area. As the show is held in Southampton organisers felt it appropriate to select this charity as Macmillan is well known in Hampshire.
Teenage Cancer Trust
Teenage Cancer Trust has been selected as the local charity for the show. This charity is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for the six young people aged between 13 and 24 diagnosed with cancer every day. This charity builds specialist units within NHS hospitals that bring young people together to be treated by teenage cancer experts in a place designed just for them.
Thanks to overwhelming public support Teenage Cancer Trust will be opening a ten bed teenage and young adult cancer unit at Southampton General Hospital this year, for young people from the South Coast including the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands.
Wetwheels
As well as being able to view the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust boat at the show, which will be held in Mayflower Park, Southampton from the 13th-22nd September, another boat with an Isle of Wight connection will not only be on view but disabled visitors to the show will be able to get out on the water thanks to Wetwheels which will be based on berth M015.
Wetwheels owned by Geoff Holt MBE is a fully wheelchair accessible, 9m Cheetah catamaran. Built on the Island at Ventnor the boat is powered by two Suzuki V6 300hp outboard engines.
If you’re interested in going out on Wetwheels, we would recommend that you register your interest prior to the show so that any specific requirements can be catered for. You can do this by emailing [email protected]
Other boats of interest
Other boats of interest are ‘Bessie Ellen’ and ‘Callista’. Built in Plymouth, Devon, in 1904 by William Kelly, ‘Bessie Ellen’ is one of the last surviving West Country trading ketches from a fleet that once numbered nearly 700. Bessie Ellen plied her trade through an era when working sailing ships were an everyday sight in English ports and harbours. ‘Bessie Ellen’ can be viewed on M513.
Can you help solve the mystery of what lies beneath the ocean surface? All is revealed aboard the state-of-the art scientific research vessel, ‘Callista’, on loan from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton.
‘Callista’ is a purpose built catamaran that is designed to give researchers the best possible platform to carry out science. At almost 20-metres long, the twin-hulled vessel has a large rear deck with an `A’ frame for equipment deployment. ‘Callista’ also features the latest scientific equipment in wet and dry laboratories and can be seen on M536.
These special boats are not at the show all of the time. If planning a visit, please check the show web-site for details of when they are open for viewing.
