A BASINGSTOKE woman has spoken about her experience with cancer as a child, and how sailing with the The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust helped her recovery.

To mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September, Macy Boyling who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia at just six-years-old, has shared her story as part of a short film produced by Musto - a supporter to the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust since its inception in 2003.

The 22-year-old, who endured two years of gruelling treatment, first sailed with the trust in 2013, and has since gone on to become a committed 'graduate volunteer' with the trust, helping youngsters in the same position she was in.

Macy recently spent a day sailing with Ellen herself, Britain’s most successful offshore sailor, and completed the Round the Island Race on the Isle of Wight.

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The trust offers the opportunity to learn sailing and to become part of a crew, as well as outdoor adventure. Through this, young people build confidence by making friends with others who have had similar experiences - often for the first time.

Macy said: “Through the trust I got ‘me’ back. Before that I was ‘Macy who had cancer’, but through sailing with the trust I met people who felt the same as me and had gone through the same things I had. They're a huge family and helped me get to where I am today. There's always constant support, even now I'm returning as a volunteer. They're still there every step of the way for whatever help or reassurance I need. It is the best thing I've ever done and I don't think I would be here or be anywhere near where I am today without the trust.”

Since completing her first trip with the trust, Macy has gone on to become a keen sailor with her university sailing club and she goes back to help with trust trips each year.

She added: “My plan is to do my day skipper alongside my degree and then my Yacht Masters qualification. Ultimately, I would love to skipper for the trust each summer.”

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Dame Ellen said: “A trip with the trust is the most transformational experience. I’ll visit on day one and everyone's quite quiet and they don't say much and you almost feel concerned for their wellbeing. Four days later, they just won't be quiet! And it's the most wonderful thing to witness. There's some magic that happens on those trips. It really does help those young people to step out of their illness.”

For the month of September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, all donations made to the trust by Musto customers in-store will be matched by Musto, the leading sailing and technical clothing brand.

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust was founded by Ellen almost 20 years ago. It is a national charity that inspires young people aged eight to 24 to believe in a brighter future living through and beyond cancer.