Ben Ainslie is the most successful Olympic sailor of all time. At his first ever Olympic Games Ben won an Olympic silver medal, which would be his last time coming second. Ben established himself as the world’s best after going on to win consecutive gold medals. Following his historic Olympic achievement, Ben had the honour of being nominated as Team GB’s flag bearer for the London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony – ‘a really proud moment’ for Ben. He has now switched his intention to compete in the America’s Cup.
Andrew Pindar OBE DL
Andrew’s involvement with sailing started over thirty six years ago when he sponsored the North Sea Race from his home town of Scarborough to Ijmuiden (Holland). Since then, the Pindar name has become synonymous with some of the most notable sailing campaigns of recent years from dinghy classes to ocean racing yachts. Having sailed round the world no fewer than six times, GAC Pindar is proud to deliver the logistics for the Extreme Sailing Series, the Volvo Ocean Race, Oman Sail, the M32’s series and the World Match Racing Tour.
Dee Caffari MBE
Dee started her career as a secondary school PE teacher before moving into the world of sailing, joining the Global Challenge Round the World Race in 2004/5. In 2006, Dee became the first solo female to circumnavigate the globe, non-stop, against the prevailing winds and currents.
In 2009, Dee became the first woman to circumnavigate the globe, single handed, non stop both ways. Later that year, Dee and her all-female crew broke the world record for sailing around the Britain and Ireland. Then in 2011, Dee completed the Barcelona World Race. She remains the only woman to have circumnavigated the globe, non-stop, three times.
Chris Moon MBE
Chris Moon is a truly inspirational motivational speaker who helps people step beyond what they thought possible. Chris knows exactly what it takes to overcome adversity and supposed limitations. In 1995 he was blown up in Africa clearing landmines for a charity and lost his lower arm and leg.
With a prosthetic arm and leg, Chris taught himself to run again shortly after leaving hospital. Within 12 months of being discharged, Chris completed the London Marathon. In 1997 he completed the gruelling Marathon De Sables and inspired many to follow in his footsteps. Since then he’s run the world’s toughest ultra-marathons, including theBadwater Death Valley Ultra (135 miles) and the West Highland Way Race (95 miles). He’s run numerous ultra-distance events and several one thousand mile events.
Chris is a veteran adviser to the NHS on state-of-the-art prosthetics and has been involved with many charities in roles including President, Trustee and fundraiser. Chris was awarded an MBE for his work in demining and in recognition of his humanitarian work, he was given the honour of carrying the Olympic Flame into the stadium at the opening ceremony of the Nagano Winter Olympics. Chris is a Patron of Run 4 Cancer (Part of the 4 Cancer Group).
Rosie Swale-Pope MBE
Rosie Swale-Pope MBE is a British author, adventurer and marathon runner. She successfully completed a five-year around-the-world run, raising £250,000 for charity and to highlight the importance of early diagnosis of prostate cancer. Her other achievements include sailing single-handed across the Atlantic in a small boat, and trekking 3,000 miles (4,800 km) alone through Chile on horseback.
Franz Klammer
Franz Klammer remains the most successful downhill World Cup skier of all time, having won the downhill World Cup a record five times. Of his 26 World Cup victories, 25 came in the downhill discipline with another in the combined race of 1976. To add to his World Cup and World Championship titles, Franz added the Olympic downhill title in 1976. Later on his career in 1984, Franz won the downhill at Kitzbühel on the legendary Hahnenkammrennen for a record fourth time, after three consecutive wins from 1975 to 1977.
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards
Michael Edwards, better known as Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, was an international ski racer who then became the first competitor to represent Great Britain in ski jumping at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. At the time, he was the British ski jumping record holder and the world number nine in amateur speed skiing (171.9 km/h). Eddie became famous for his perseverance and achievement without funding. In 2013, Eddie competed in and won the ITV celebrity diving programme ‘Splash!’ Eddie also commentates on the Channel 4 TV programme ‘The Jump’.
Five time Olympic skier turned TV presenter, adventurer and journalist, Graham Bell is the face of the BBC’s Ski Sunday as well as a successful commentator and sporting pundit. Until recently Graham held the prestigious title of International Performance Director for The Ski & Snowboard Federation and is a patron of The British Ski Academy. Graham was also a significant member of the board of SnowsportGB and the Olympic committee.
Chemmy Alcott
Chemmy Alcott is a former British World Cup alpine ski racer. She competed in all five disciplines: Downhill, Super G, Giant Slalom, Slalom and Combined. Chemmy competed in four Winter Olympic Games and seven FIS World Championships. She was also the Senior British National Champion five times (2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008). She retired from international competition following the 2015 season. Chemmy took part in the 2014 Arctic Circle Race in support of Ski 4 Cancer raising some £15,000 for the charity.
Sue Stockdale
Sue Stockdale became the first British woman to ski to the Magnetic North Pole, a feat she achieved in 1996. Since then, Sue has taken part in expeditions to Antarctica and the Geographical North Pole. She has also skied across the Greenland Ice Cap with a select international team. The former senior Executive at British Gas and Scottish 3,000m runner also appeared in Channel 4’s Superhuman series where contestants were subjected to some of the toughest tests ever seen on TV.
Rhys Jones
An ambitious skier and mountaineer, Rhys stood on the summit of Mount Everest on his 20th Birthday becoming the youngest person in the world to complete the Seven Summits Challenge – which includes the highest peaks on each of the world’s continents. Rhys spends most of his life in the mountain environment. He now runs the mountain expedition company RJSeven Expeditions, organising treks, climbs and challenges around the world.
Graeme Hilditch
Graeme is a bestselling author, presenter, personal trainer and sports therapist specialising in helping people of all abilities improve their running and cycling fitness.
His experience and knowledge of endurance training and nutrition has not only seen him work alongside major sports brands such as Brooks Running and Science in Sport (SiS) but has also given him the chance to help thousands of people train for iconic endurance events such as the London Marathon and RideLondon.
Graeme is the author of six bestselling running and fitness books, including the widely acclaimed “The Marathon and Half Marathon: A Training Guide,” a book which BBC Newsreader and prolific marathon runner Sophie Raworth ranked as one of her top five favourite books. His books have been sold worldwide and translated into several languages.
A highly sought after presenter, Graeme also offers health and wellbeing talks and consultations for leading companies to help raise awareness of the benefits of exercise and nutrition to improve physical and mental health.
His passion for improving people’s health and wellbeing by training for running and cycling challenges makes Graeme an ideal for both Run 4 Cancer and Bike 4 Cancer.
“I am honoured to have been asked to be a Patron for this amazing charity. If my passion for running and cycling can help to raise awareness of cancer and the importance of respite care, then it makes my job even more rewarding than I could ever have hoped.”
The former Chief of Defence Staff and First Sea Lord was Sail 4 Cancer’s first appointed Patron in 2001. After a distinguished career in the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence, Lord Boyce helped Sail 4 Cancer by raising the profile of the charity as well as hosting events. Mike served as the charity’s principal patron from 2001 to 2022. Very sadly Mike died in late 2022. His help, guidance and support were invaluable and he will be sorely missed.
