Three young patients from Manchester’s specialist cancer centre, The Christie, took part in a life-changing sailing trip this summer, returning home with new confidence, friendships, and memories.
Adil Hafezji, Mercy Osarekhoe and Khaja Moinuddin joined the trip organised by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. They sailed from Largs Marina in Scotland to Port Bannatyne on the Isle of Bute and back, giving them the chance to learn sailing skills, work as a team, and connect with others who have faced cancer.
The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust takes young people aged 8–24 on sailing and outdoor adventures to help them rediscover independence and help them believe in a brighter future living through and beyond cancer.
Adil’s story – Regaining confidence after cancer
After a gruelling 18 months of cancer treatment, 20-year-old Adil Hafezji from Rusholme was thrilled to embark on the sailing adventure in July.
Adil was one of five young people and three crew on his boat, with two other boats in the fleet. All had been affected by cancer, and together they spent three nights on the water.
“It was proper sick in the best way. I had a fantastic time,” said Adil. “On the first night, we had time to settle in, meet each other properly and explore the boat. Some of us were a bit nervous, but by the end of the night we were chatting like we’d known each other ages.”
On board, Adil took an active role, hoisting sails, steering, and tying ropes. “It was physical, but it felt good to be doing stuff again. It was a hands-on experience, with everyone pitching in and learning from one another.”
Highlights included a lively boat-to-boat water fight. “For a bit, I forgot about everything else. I was just laughing.” On the final evening, instead of baking for the group celebration, Adil shared a poem he wrote (see below) about the trip, capturing its humour, teamwork, and moments of joy.
“Being at sea is so chilled. Looking out at the sea gives you a kind of peace. At night, you can hear the water against the hull. It’s kind of calming,” he reflected.
For Adil, the trip was more than a holiday. “After treatment, you lose your confidence. This trip really helped with that. I wanted to take a step forward after my gruelling cancer treatment and thought it would be a good way to mark my progress and have fun again. It was even a bit spiritual at times.”
Adil was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, at 17. Months of unexplained pelvic pain led to repeated GP visits before an X-ray, scans, and a biopsy at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, which confirmed the diagnosis in March 2024. 
“My first thought was, am I going to die? My parents took it harder than I did. I had to be strong for them,” he said.
Treatment at The Christie included an intensive course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy over seven months, plus a nephrostomy tube in his kidney for over a year. Chemotherapy left him drained, nauseous, and without his signature curly hair. “That was probably the worst part,” he says.
Radiotherapy brought its own side effects. “They blasted everything out of me,” he jokes, describing the impact that the treatment had on his bowels and urinary tract.
Now, six months post-treatment, Adil is rebuilding his strength with physiotherapy. “I used to box a lot, but you can’t without good legs,” he says. “They said I’ll be able to run again. Maybe not as fast, but I’ll get there.” An MRI in May 2025 showed no signs of regrowth.
He credits the Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) unit at The Christie with making a huge difference. “They’re amazing. You’re carrying a lot of baggage, and they take that stress off you.” From games and quizzes to compassionate conversations, Adil says the staff became a vital part of his support system. “Even when I didn’t feel like talking, I felt like talking to them,” he says.
Chloe Page, Teenage and Young Adult Youth Support Coordinator at The Christie, said: “Adil has shown incredible resilience throughout his treatment. The sailing trip was a brilliant opportunity for him to connect with others, push his boundaries, and rediscover confidence in a supportive and fun environment. We’re so proud of how far he’s come, and it’s great that he had such a positive experience on this trip.”
A spokesperson for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust added: “Cancer can have a big impact on a young person’s mental wellbeing beyond treatment, and what happens afterwards can often be as difficult as treatment itself. This is not understood or talked about much, leading young people to feel like they are the only ones finding life after cancer hard.
“After their treatment, they are often left with fewer friends and struggle with relationships, education and work experience opportunities. They may also develop body image issues. The late effects of being diagnosed young include infertility, extreme fatigue, osteoporosis, thyroid problems, and hearing or vision loss.”
Now back home, Adil sees the trip as a turning point. He didn’t just sail around Scotland’s stunning coastline; he was charting a new course for himself. “It reminded me that I can still do stuff. I might have to go slower than before, but I can do it. I can laugh, meet new people, try something new.”
He missed the final months of college but is now considering his future, possibly pursuing his love of writing and poetry. “I love writing and love poetry, this trip has given me the confidence and motivation to keep writing, and one day publish when the right opportunity comes along.”
He’s also got the sailing bug. “I’d go back in a heartbeat,” he says. “Maybe next time I’ll even steer the boat the whole way. And if I ever buy my own boat, I might try to beat Ellen MacArthur’s record,” he adds with a grin.
“Before cancer, I’d probably have said no to this trip. Now, I say yes. You only live once, so make the most of it.”
Mercy’s story – Finding normality again
When 20-year-old Manchester student Mercy Osarekhoe noticed a lump on her neck in 2024, she never imagined it would lead to a life-changing diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She had moved from Madrid to Manchester to study accounting and finance.
Mercy began chemotherapy at The Christie shortly before Christmas 2024, followed by a course of radiotherapy in spring 2025. She is now awaiting follow-up scans to confirm that the cancer is gone and is preparing for exams over the summer while working part-time.
She joined the same Scottish sailing trip as Adil. “It was my first time on a boat. I learned how to sail, met amazing people, and felt like I could just be myself again, without everything being about illness or treatment,” she said.
Initially nervous about being at sea, Mercy was surprised at how much she enjoyed it. “It gave me a sense of achievement and made me feel more confident again.”
She says the trip offered something she didn’t realise she needed – “a space to feel normal again”. She is keen to encourage other young people to take part next time. “Everyone’s in the same boat, literally. You make friends quickly. I’m really grateful I got the chance to go,” she concludes.
Khaja’s story
Khaja Moinuddin from Gorton who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last year, joined the sailing trip after surgery to remove his thyroid and part of his windpipe, followed by highly specialised radioiodine treatment at The Christie. He’s always been open to trying new things and going to new places, and thoroughly enjoyed the sailing trip.
