He's done it! Our long-term berth holder Olle Nash is now home and dry in Ipswich, having spent three months circumnavigating the UK to raise more than £12,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Olle is battling cancer himself and sadly lost his daughter to cancer in 2017, so knows all too well what an invaluable service that MacMillan provide.
Reflecting on his three-month circumnavigation of the UK for Macmillan Cancer Support, Olle Nash, 63, who arrives back at Fox’s Marina in Ipswich this afternoon, said:
“It feels amazing to have completed this journey.
“It’s been a physically punishing challenge for me, as someone undergoing active treatment for bowel cancer, but I’m so grateful that with the right support and medical advice I’ve been able to enjoy this incredible adventure and raise more than £12,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
“That’s not to say I haven’t felt unwell at points - I have felt the side effects of my recent radiotherapy treatment quite keenly in the past few weeks - but the warm welcome we’ve received in harbour towns and villages across the UK, and the knowledge that every penny raised will help to make life that bit easier for people with cancer, has kept me focussed.
“This would have remained a pipe dream without the unwavering support of my family, friends and the medical team at Ipswich Hospital. I have to single out my stoic crewmates who have remained determined through the thick fog and violent winds that made our passage treacherous at points, and have trusted me to direct them from my bunk when I’ve not felt well enough to move. Their good humour has kept my spirits up throughout.
“It’s hard not to have Toni here, smiling knowingly at the thought of her hard-headed father pushing through the pain to finish what he’d set out to do. But if I’m honest, it’s been the thought of her, and the Macmillan professionals who made her final months easier for all of us, that have helped to see me through to the end.
“If you can, please do donate to help more people like Toni and myself to cope with the havoc that can come with a cancer diagnosis.”
You can still donate at Olle's JustGiving Page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/olle-nash
You can also read his inspirational story at www.sailingwithcancer.co.uk
