A WORCESTER man has been named volunteer of the year by Dame Ellen MacArthur’s cancer charity for young people.
Gareth Sellors, 52, from Hallow, was announced as the recipient of the award by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust last Saturday (March 25).
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a national charity that takes young people aged 8-24 on sailing and outdoor adventures to inspire them to believe in a brighter future living through and beyond cancer.
Gareth was inspired to get involved with the charity after a colleague, who had previously volunteered on an Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust trip, said it would be up his street.
He said: “He was absolutely correct. Last year was my first time sailing with the charity and I absolutely loved it. I loved the whole atmosphere, I loved the young people and seeing what it did for them.
“It’s such a fabulous charity. It does such good work and it’s got a unique recipe for helping young people. There is something about the people, a feeling of togetherness and sailing, while isolated from the troubles of the world. I think that’s the magic of what the Trust does.
“No one volunteers for recognition, but it’s lovely to feel you’ve made a difference to other volunteers, the skippers the Trust works with, and most importantly the young people they support.”
Gareth was nominated for the award by young people who have been supported by the Trust. He was part of a crew which sailed from Cowes on the Isle of Wight last summer, spending four days on the water.
One nomination said: “Gareth was incredible. From the first minute, he made everyone feel welcome and was so lovely. Even though it was his first trip, it seemed like he’d done it a million times before.
“He kept us laughing all week long, everyone on our boat said he was their favourite part of the trip. He is a huge asset to the Trust and I really hope our paths cross in the future.”
Another said: “He went above and beyond being a medic. Besides making sure we were taken care of, he made us food every day. If we needed anything he was there to help, even if it was just to put a smile on our faces, he never failed.”
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust’s work begins when treatment ends, because for many young people, simply picking up where they left off before their diagnosis just isn’t possible.
Through the Trust’s sailing and outdoor activities, young people meet others who have had similar experiences – often for the first time, rediscover independence away from home, experience an increased sense of purpose and self-worth, and begin to realise what they are capable of again. Most importantly they stop feeling like the ‘only one’.
The young people are inspired to believe in a brighter future as they feel accepted, independent, and optimistic. They can start to re-establish their place in the world by getting back into education or employment and reconnecting with their friends and families.
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust’s Luke Gilbert Volunteer of the Year Award was introduced in 2017 in celebration of the Trust’s legendary volunteer.
Visit ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org or follow @EMCTrust on social media for more.
