Cadets go overboard to raise cash for cancer charity

A group of officer cadets from Warsash Maritime Academy (WMA), which is part of Southampton Solent University, are preparing to brave the elements and spend 24 hours in a liferaft to raise funds for sailing respite charity, Sail 4 Cancer.

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.

-Ends-

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE MEDIA OFFICE ON 023 8031 9040 or press.office@solent.ac.uk

Warsash Maritime Academy (WMA), the commercial maritime arm of Southampton Solent University, has provided first-class education, training, consultancy and research to the international shipping, commercial yacht, offshore oil and gas, and renewables industries for almost 70 years. The academy provides internationally recognised certification programmes for both deck and engineer officers from cadet level to Master (Captain) and Chief Engineer. It also offers short safety courses to develop skills such as fire fighting and sea survival, and continuous professional development modules for more experienced officers. The use of bridge, engine room and liquid cargo operations simulators are offered for higher level training, including their specialist ship handling training centre, of which it is one of only three major facilities of its kind in the world. www.warsashacademy.co.uk

Southampton Solent University offers more than 23,000 students over 200 qualifications ranging from HND to PhD, in subjects such as maritime education and training, fashion and design, media and television, music, health, sport and leisure, business, IT and technology. The university was awarded the 2013 Quality Assurance kitemark for quality and standards of teaching and learning. Solent was voted one of the most creative universities in the UK in a Which? University 2013 poll of students. Solent Business School has been awarded ‘Gold approval’ by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). www.solent.ac.uk

Sail4Cancer was set up in 2001 by a group of keen sailors who had all lost a close friend or relative to cancer. Sail 4 Cancer is primarily a provider of water-based respite days and breaks for families affected by cancer.  The charity also makes grants to cancer care centres and supports research into the positive effects of exercise (e.g. sailing) and how it can help prevent cancer and aid recovery post diagnosis. Sail 4 Cancer is UK Registered Charity Number 1090133. www.sail4cancer.org

Tags: