Cadets Go Overboard to Raise Cash for Cancer Charity

On Friday 21 March, 39 cadets will experience firsthand what it would be like to be cast adrift with their ship sinking behind them. They will spend 24 hours in five liferafts which will be secured to two buoys in the River Hamble.

This is the first time that a maritime academy has taken part in Sail 4 Cancer’s 24 hour liferaft challenge, which raises funds to provide respite breaks for families affected by cancer.

WMA’s Cadet Liaison Officer David Baker was keen for the Academy’s cadets to get involved. “This challenge is a chance to enhance their training, and a great opportunity to raise funds and awareness for those facing far longer and more difficult challenges - UK families living with cancer,” he said. Thomas Jones, Officer Cadet (sponsored by Maersk Crewing Ltd) wishes he’d known about the charity when he lost his mother to cancer. “I feel that this charity would have helped me deal with the stress of the situation. They support people by helping to take their minds off things and creating some great lasting memories.”

Sail4Cancer is delighted that so many cadets volunteered for the challenge that an extra liferaft was needed. “The response from the staff and cadets of the Warsash Maritime Academy has been absolutely wonderful. They have enthusiastically taken on this difficult challenge and will help us to provide much-needed respite breaks for families who are going through a very difficult time,” says Sail 4 Cancer’s Fundraising Manager, Lizette van Niekerk.

Four of the liferafts have been provided by Ocean Safety and a fifth by Clyde Marine Training. Each cadet has been given a target of £200 to raise for the charity.

Donations can be made through a link to the Team Warsash Sail 4 Cancer webpage http://www.sail4cancer.org/article.php?newsid=3052. They have already raised £6,500.