A SCHOOLBOY who endured cancer at a young age has taken part in an inspirational sailing trip with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

Oliver Cole, 12, from Eastbourne, went on the four-day yachting adventure with a group of young people all in recovery from cancer.

He sailed around the Solent on the south coast on the four-day trip in what was his first time sailing with the trust.

He said: "I had never been sailing before but I really enjoyed it and the barbecue.

"I learnt how to do some knots and how to steer a boat on the trip, and it was good spending time with the other young people.

"I felt we got to know each other well. I would definitely do it again."

Oliver, a pupil at St Catherine’s College in Eastbourne, finished cancer treatment in May 2006 at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital.

Sailing onboard 42 to 48 foot cruising yachts, the trust trips provide a chance for the young people to test themselves in a safe and supportive environment, encouraging them to work as a team and get involved in everything from helming the boat to cooking.

Departing from their south coast base in East Cowes Marina, Isle of Wight, the trip navigated the waters of the Solent, which took them to various stopovers, including Yarmouth Harbour and the picturesque bay of Newtown Creek for a barbecue.

They then put their new skills to the test as they cruised back to Cowes.

Launched in 2003, the aim of the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is to give young people in recovery from cancer the chance to rebuild their confidence through sailing.

The trust trips provide a chance for the young people to test themselves in a safe and supportive environment.