A GROUP of keen sailors, who have all lost a close relative or friend to cancer, have been cheered by the news that Sail 4 Cancer - the charity they set up two years ago - has been chosen as the official charity for Skandia Cowes Week for the next three years.

The group's common love of sailing and a series of strong contacts in the sailing world were the initial reasons why the sport was chosen as a medium to help others who have been affected by the disease.

Sail 4 Cancer aims to raise significant funds for cancer treatment and research through the organisation of high profile sailing events, but it also provides sailing opportunities for cancer patients and their families and those who have suffered recent bereavement.

David Gill, one of the founders of Sail 4 Cancer, hopes that the charity's profile will be boosted as a result of the tie-up. He said: "Our main objective for the next three years is not only to raise the profile of Sail 4 Cancer within the UK sailing community, but also to promote sailing among the wider population.

"Over the next three years you'll see Sail 4 Cancer working closely not only with Skandia, but also the other Cowes Week supporting sponsors such as Omega, Timberland and Henri Lloyd. Together, we will be staging all sorts of exciting fundraising events throughout Skandia Cowes Week, for example the Timberland/Lewmar Grinder Challenge in the Yacht Haven.

Fundraising events staged so far have fallen into two categories as Gill explained: "I suppose our events to date fall into two categories. Firstly we are the official charity for a series of corporate regattas such as Sun Microsystems' Sunsail regatta and Rampage Event Management's Yarmouth regatta. Aside from the obvious team building benefits, involvement in these events afford a host of tax relief benefits and cause related marketing opportunities for each participating organisation.

"Secondly, Sail 4 Cancer organises fundraising events aimed at members of the public where participants raise personal sponsorship funds. As part of our Tall Ship Challenge series of fundraising events, volunteers are sponsored to climb the ship's 150ft masts, walk the yard arms, hoist the huge square sails, take the helm and venture out on to the bowsprit!

"We have also put together a Louis Vuitton style regatta, The Sail 4 Cancer Cup, utilising two IACC boats built for the 1995 San Diego Cup."

In an exciting development, the charity is also entering the Fastnet this year after the British Offshore Sailing School (BOSS) selected Sail 4 Cancer as its official charity for the Fastnet.

Aside from the glamour of the Fastnet, one of the charity's main objectives is to provide sailing opportunities for cancer patients. "Sail 4 Cancer is committed to taking groups of cancer patients, their relatives and families who have recently lost someone to cancer out on the water. I personally found this very helpful when I was coming to terms with my own father's death from cancer two years ago," said Gill.

As a result of this, Sail 4 Cancer plans to set up 20 sailing centres throughout the UK within the next two years. Each will provide cancer patients and their families with sailing opportunities in the hope that they will be able to escape from the reality of their everyday lives, albeit only for only a short time.

The emphasis will be placed on relaxation, team-building and mutual support.

The charity relies voluntary donations and legacies for funding, but you can help by giving you time. "Becoming a volunteer is another way people can support Sail 4 Cancer. For example, people may want to offer their professional expertise in helping us manage the administrative elements of the charity," explained Gill.

Activities with which volunteers are already engaged include: website design, crewing tall ships, manning stands at trade shows and collecting donations.

For more information on Sail 4 Cancer, please visit their website at www.sail4cancer.org.uk or phone them on 020 8670 3080.