A TEENAGE girl recovering from cancer treatment has enjoyed a four-day sailing challenge round the Isle of Wight.

Maisie Norton, 14, from Wantage, navigated the Solent with 31 other young people between the ages of eight and 17, all in recovery from cancer and leukaemia.

Everyone involved had the chance to help sail and were encouraged to work as a team by getting involved in everything from helming the boat to cooking.

Maisie was at Millbrook School, in Grove, when she was diagnosed with a Wilms’ tumour on her kidney in 2009.

A Wilms’ tumour is cancer of the kidneys that typically occurs in children, but rarely in adults.

She bravely suffered 10 months chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Then in May 2011 she was diagnosed with another small tumour in her lung and received more chemotherapy treatment at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital , finishing treatment in February this year.

The sailing adventure was organised by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, a charity that supports young people who are recovering from cancer and other serious illnesses, launched in 2003 by Dame Ellen MacArthur.

After last month’s expedition, Maisie said: “The trip was really good.

“I had lots of opportunities to try different things which were brilliant and I really enjoyed it.

“This is my first time sailing and my first time on the Isle of Wight.

“It’s a really nice place and I learnt lots about sailing – I learnt about the winches and the mainsail.

“I’m going to come back next year, what Ellen’s done and what the trust do is really good.

“It builds up your confidence and helps you to interact and socialise with other kids who have been in the same position as you. You meet lots of new people and you can relate to each other.”

Dame Ellen, a sailor herself, is best known for breaking the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe in 2005.

She said: "These young people are truly amazing.

“They face experiences that no one should ever have to go through, and yet they do it with the biggest smile on their faces, they are truly inspiring”.

  • If you would like to support the trust visit ellenmacarthur cancertrust.org