A FAMILY is set to sail around Great Britain as part of their annual fundraiser for the charity which is helping their son battle cancer.
Each year, Colin, 66, and Jan Stracey, 61, of Premier Sailing in North Fambridge, organise a sail around Britain to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The journey will begin at the Fambridge Yacht Haven on Monday morning.
In November 2013, their son James, now 38, was studying in Manchester when he went to the Christie Hospital complaining of a stomach ache.
The visit revealed an unexpected diagnosis of bowel cancer with secondary tumours on his liver.
Colin said: “Since that day, James has undergone several major surgeries and chemotherapy treatment programmes and is currently undergoing chemo to shrink cancer cells present in his stomach.
“During times of treatment, as well as remission, Macmillan Cancer Support has been there for him, providing support in so many aspects of his life, making this cancer journey that little bit easier – and that little has made a lot of difference.
“Despite undergoing a palliative programme of immunotherapy and chemotherapy he will, between treatments, be supporting these voyages.
“With our planned 2020 cruise having been postponed due to the Covid pandemic, we are embarking our fifth and largest cruise yet.
“There will be a total of 84 participants on three vessels travelling over a total of seven weeks.
“This is the first opportunity we have, with the easing of restrictions, to run this event and we aim to make it our most successful yet.”
Premier Sailing's yacht
So far, more than £23,000 has been raised for the charity.
The cruise is supported by businesses such as Volspec, Tiptree Jam, Marinestore, Mantsbrite, Amazon Marine, Pantaenius, MOB Lifesavers, Chatham Shoes, Gill International, and Boatfolk.
Carrie Adams, of Volspec, said: “We’ve all been blown away by Colin, Jan and James’s personal story and as a business community we’ve all thoroughly enjoyed pooling together to support a great cause.
“To help Colin and Jan, we’ll be attending the event and giving the racing crew a good send-off.
“The boats stop off at Newcastle, Inverness, Fort William, Rhu, Cardiff and Plymouth and usually attract a lot of attention in the marinas they moor at.”
Another fundraising trip has been organised for August.
To donate to the fundraiser, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/premier-sailing1.
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