23 Sep 2022 Fundraising

Spectacular sailing challenge in memory of Pat Buckley

Royal Corinthian Yacht Club’s 61^st Endeavour Trophy fundraiser for Leukaemia UK

A fleet of thirty boats displaying the Leukaemia UK logo on their sails will put on a spectacular racing display on the River Crouch next week.

Thirty national sailing champions will be taking part in the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club’s 61^st Endeavour Trophy on October 7^th – 9^th.

The annual event is this year being dedicated to the memory of Pat Buckley, who was involved with the club for almost 30 years and acted as race Recorder during the Endeavour Trophy for many years.

Pat was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in April 2021 and died in January 2022 at the age of 73.

Acute leukaemias are some of the fastest developing and hardest to treat. Many of the current treatments for AML continue to be incredibly harsh on the human body. Leukaemia UK are funding research into kinder and more effective treatments for AML, in the hope that patients diagnosed in the future will have more treatment options and ultimately better outcomes.

When Pat was diagnosed, she had already successfully fought two diagnoses of breast cancer 14 years apart. She was treated for lung cancer in 2020 but failed to recover from the treatment and was then diagnosed with leukaemia. Treatment proved extremely gruelling. Pat had several rounds of chemotherapy and twice developed sepsis before she and her husband decided to stop her treatment.

Pat’s husband Edwin, 75, shared many sailing adventures with Pat during their 52 year marriage and is also an active member of the club. He himself recovered from cancer in 2012.

“We were always happy running sailing events together,” said Edwin. “Our boat is called Phoebe and we went to events all over the country in her. I’m still keen on sailing, and my son and grandchildren are now enjoying Phoebe.”

“The CEO of RS Sailing suggested to me that we dedicate this whole event to Pat’s memory. All our sponsors have been brilliant and right behind us. It’s going to be extremely emotional. But it will help me to know that all the money raised throughout the weekend will go towards developing kinder, more effective treatments for leukaemia and ensuring other families aren’t devastated by this disease in the way we have been.”

Every day, 27 people in the UK – almost 10,000 every year – receive the devastating news that they have leukaemia. Over 40% of all new leukaemia cases in the UK occur in people aged 75 and over. Despite decades of incredible progress, only half of leukaemia patients live longer than five years after their diagnosis.

Eight races will take place across the weekend in the two-person boats.

Leukaemia UK Chief Executive Fiona Hazell will be attending on the Sunday to thank Edwin and the club for their generosity and support.

Fiona said:

“It is through our community of incredible fundraisers such as Edwin that Leukaemia UK are able to continue to find and fund life-saving leukaemia research. We are extremely grateful that Edwin has chosen to support Leukaemia UK as part of this year’s Endeavour Trophy event. A leukaemia diagnosis devastates lives and it’s due to amazing fundraisers like Edwin and the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club that we hope one day this will no longer be the case.”

This year’s Endeavour Trophy has been dedicated to Pat’s memory and the organisers’ are using the event to fundraise for Leukaemia UK. To show your support please visit our donation page to help accelerate progress in diagnosis, treatment and care for leukaemia patients.