Derbyshire cancer survivor who sailed around Britain takes on virtual challenge

Tom Roberts, now 27, was supported by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust after being diagnosed with ewing sarcoma of the spine, a type of bone cancer, aged 16.

He went on to become a trust volunteer and in 2017 he sailed around Britain with the trust as the boat's onboard photographer and cameraman.

This month, Tom took on the 4-4-48 challenge, also known as Goggin’s challenge, which involves running, jogging and walking four miles every four hours for 48 hours as part of the trust’s virtual ‘Round Britain Your Way’ event.

The event is running throughout the whole of September to coincide with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

The trust has twice sailed around Britain crewed by young people in recovery from cancer in 2009 and 2017.

Now ‘Round Britain Your Way’ invites anyone to run, swim, walk, cycle or create their own challenge to collectively travel the 4,800 miles the young people sailed on those two voyages.

Tom, who now travels the world as a professional sailing videographer, said: “I first sailed with the trust after treatment and fell in love with what the trust is all about.

"In hindsight, it's clear the first trip and my subsequent experiences with the trust have been key in my recovery.“I struggled immensely with confidence and social anxieties following my treatment, the effects of which I still feel today.

"I was never an extrovert before treatment but certainly found it more difficult afterwards trying to reintegrate into friendships and wider society.

“I'd also never experienced sailing and doing what is considered a fairly niche sport in Derbyshire would allow me to test myself and my spinal reconstruction to see where I was at."

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a national charity that empowers young people aged eight to 24 to embrace life after cancer through sailing and outdoor adventure.

"From the moment I joined the coach leaving from Nottingham hospital for my first trip, I felt part of something, part of something bigger than the bubble I'd been in with my mum.”