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Sailing's role model joins in youth voyage
Sailing superstar Dame Ellen MacArthur will be visiting Portsmouth as part of a round- Britain trip for young cancer sufferers.
Alongside her will be local teenager Harriet Wills who is among 85 youngsters taking part in the 2,000-mile trip.
Dame Ellen and the cancer survivors, including Harriet, are expected to arrive at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, at about 7pm on Sunday and will set sail at about 10am on Monday.
The voyage has been organised by the Ellen MacArthur Trust, which takes young people aged from eight to 18 sailing to help them regain confidence on their way to recovery from cancer, leukaemia and other serious illness.
Harriet, 15, from Bursledon, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 1999 and sailed with the Trust during her recovery, said: 'I'm really looking forward to being back on the water and meeting new people.
'And best of all I get to sail with my hero Ellen MacArthur.'
The four-month journey will give those on board the chance to return to the paediatric oncology wards of the hospitals they were treated in and share their experiences with those currently undergoing treatment for cancer.
Dame Ellen, who sailed into the record books in February 2005 by becoming the fastest person to sail around the world alone, said: 'I have so many fond memories of my first trip sailing around Britain in Iduna in 1995 and this time round I'm delighted that we can give so many young people recovering from cancer and leukaemia the opportunity to experience it.'
She added: 'I'm really excited about the summer ahead, spending time with the young people from the Trust and visiting different places around the UK for the first time since my first solo voyage around Britain in 1995.
'The talks are the first opportunity that I've had for a long time to share my sailing experiences as well as my plans for the future and I can't wait for it all to start.'
The voyage is being skippered by South African Cath Vise, who is based in Hamble.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Friday 10 February 2012
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