Exis CEO to complete fundraising sailing challenge for Blood Cancer UK
James Douglas, Exis CEO, has been undergoing treatment for CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia) since being diagnosed in 2018. A keen sailor for most of his life, taking part in competitions around the UK and beyond, James has now set himself a fundraising sailing challenge for Blood Cancer UK. The Dee Isolation Challenge will involve James sailing his 18ft Catamaran with his son Cameron, also an experienced sailor, from the Dee Sailing club, based on the River Dee, Merseyside, UK to the town where he grew up, Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland, to visit his mother. With stops in Anglesey and the Isle of Man that is a distance of more than 268km. Due to the Covid pandemic and his illness forcing him to shield, James and his mother have been isolated from each other a great deal over the last two years.
Fingers crossed and weather window permitting, the challenge will be completed between 1 May and 31 July 2022. If the challenge cannot be completed within the weather window it will be rearranged, but definitely completed.
As part of the fundraising Exis is also making a donation to the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) charity to help with the invaluable work they do all year round saving lives at sea which fits with the NCB Group mission of Safety of Life and Cargo at Sea. Although the sailing trip will be unsupported, James will be keeping in close co-operation with the RNLI with regard to safety.
James has set up a fundraising page and anyone can make a donation: https://www.gofundme.com/f/dee-isolation-challenge.
A live tracking link on the Dee Isolation Challenge web page will track their progress on the journey once they set off: https://douglasj2003.wixsite.com/dee-site
Blood Cancer UK is the UK’s specialist blood cancer charity, working to beat blood cancer since 1960. They fund world-class research and offer expert information and support to anyone affected by leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood cancer related disorders.
