Young sailor from the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust takes on the race of her life

Kristie Reid, 20 from Aberdeen has been selected be the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust ambassador who will take part in the first leg of the Clipper 13-14 Round the World Race.

A challenging three weeks at sea, will see Kristie battling the elements crossing the Atlantic Ocean from the UK to South America, in the first leg of a 40,000 mile race around the world.

Kristie was diagnosed with Biphasic Synovial Sarcoma in August 2009, a rare form of cancer that formed in the joint of her left shoulder. Having first been invited to join the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust after finishing treatment in February 2010, Kristie took part in a four-day sailing trip and returned to sail with the Trust in 2012.

With the trips inspiring a love for sailing, Kristie decided to take on a bigger challenge and put herself forward for the Clipper Race selection process last December, beating stiff competition to win the chance to take part in this unique biennial event.

The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is the only event of its type. Anyone, even if they have never stepped on a boat before, can join the adventure and circumnavigate the world. Kristie will be taking on the challenge with 19 others on board the 70-foot ocean racing yacht that will race against 11 other yachts across the Atlantic to South America under the leadership of skipper Simon Talbot.

Kristie explains what taking part in the challenge will mean to her, “I have benefited so much by having the opportunity to sail with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, and while I’m looking forward to the experience and learning more about sailing, the most important aspect for me is that this adventure will allow me to give back by fundraising for the Trust.”

Announced as official charity of the Clipper Round the World Race 20013-14 back in October last year, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is a charity that aims to give young people in recovery from cancer the chance to rebuild their confidence through sailing.

Celebrating their 10-year anniversary, the Trust has grown beyond every expectation into a national charity. Working with every young person’s primary cancer care unit in the UK, taking young people aged between 8 and 24 sailing, who are in recovery from cancer.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Chairman and Founder of the Clipper Race said: “The Clipper Race gives many people from all walks of life the chance to achieve something remarkable and I am delighted that Kristie has won the chance to take part in this year’s race. I know that her participation in the Clipper Race will help raise the profile of the great work that the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust endeavours to do for young people who are coping with cancer and will inspire others to follow their dreams.”Kristie will be keeping the trust and her supporters up to date with her Clipper adventure with her blog, read all the latest news here.