A young cancer survivor has enjoyed a transformational sailing adventure, describing the experience as a "turning point".

Ben Williams, from Codicote, was diagnosed with stage two Hodgkin lymphoma in his neck, throat and thymus in 2020, which led to six months of chemotherapy as treatment.

He has since been on three sailing trips with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust - a national charity founded in 2003 by the record-breaking yachtswoman Dame Ellen MacArthur.

The charity takes people aged eight to 24 on sailing and outdoor adventures to inspire them to believe in a brighter future, living through and beyond cancer.

Ben said the sailing adventures have helped him to become emotionally confident.Ben said the sailing adventures have helped him to become emotionally confident. (Image: Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust)

Ben, 25, said: "I didn’t feel like I needed support. I felt like I was coping really well with it and had it all under wraps and in control. I thought I was processing it all and accepting it all, but I didn’t want anyone else to know my story.

"Going on the first trip, being surrounded by all these other young people that were talking about their cancers very freely, in an amazing way, it was a turning point for me. I started talking about my cancer.

“My cancer was my thing. I didn’t want to be known as Ben, the one who has cancer. I wanted to be known as Ben, the one who is achieving great things and is fun to be around.

"Without the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust and the trips and the nurturing support that they’ve given, that would still be a guarded secret within and that would be a wall that’s put up against the outside world. I am allowing a bridge to be there instead."

Ben began talking about his cancer thanks to the experiences provided by the charity.Ben began talking about his cancer thanks to the experiences provided by the charity. (Image: Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust)

Through the charity’s sailing and outdoor adventures, young people gain a new sense of purpose and self-worth, rediscover their independence, and feel optimistic about what comes next in life.

Ben said: "It’s being in this boat with these people and it’s a magical formula. The boat is a wonderful vessel to allow these conversations to happen.

“I can now look back on some of the emotional scars from previously and reflect on it which, to me, means I’m gaining emotional maturity in relation to my cancer.

"Coming back on each of these trips has just gradually nudged me to being where I am now. It’s given me what I needed to get to this emotionally confident version of myself."

Visit ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org for more information about the charity.