We’re happy to report that one of our favourite charities, Sail 4 Cancer, has received a substantial sum from retail entrepreneur and ‘King of the High Street’, George Davies, who has donated the proceeds from the sale of his superyacht to the charity.

George Davies has long been associated with charitable giving and the team at Sail 4 Cancer was delighted when they were approached by Mr Davies regarding the donation of his 103ft super yacht, Marlyn. Following consultation between Mr Davies and the Trustees, it was felt that the greatest impact and benefit to Sail 4 Cancer’s beneficiaries could be gained by selling the yacht.

Selling a superyacht is not for the fainthearted. Because of the amounts of money involved, it’s essential for the vendor to take professional advice, particularly when it comes to arriving at a true market valuation for such a vessel.

The substantial sum realised from the sale of Marlyn has been allocated to Sail 4 Cancer’s 2011 respite activities, and will provide a huge number of respite days for individuals and families living with cancer from across the UK. The respite opportunities will include UK riverboat holidays, sailing days, spa days, overseas cruises and European activity holidays.

As a small charity reliant on grass roots fundraising, the donation has made a significant difference and has enabled Sail 4 Cancer to invest both in its internal systems and has also allowed the charity to recruit two more part time members of staff. By making these strategic investments, the money will make a lasting and ongoing difference to the charity and its beneficiaries.

The respite opportunities provided by Sail 4 Cancer are all based around the therapeutic powers of the water. From family sailing days to weekend sailing adventures for teenagers and from cruises for couples to spa days; each of these experiences enables people to spend quality time with loved ones, creating positive shared memories and simply feeling ‘normal’ again for a while.

Chair of the Trustee Board Graham Precey told Boatshed London: ‘The timing of George’s incredible donation was perfect, coming when more traditional sources of fundraising had dipped due to the current business climate. This gift will enable Sail 4 Cancer to continue with its growth plans and will have a direct impact on the lives of our beneficiaries’

Look out for future blog posts to see how Boatshed London will be supporting Sail 4 Cancer!

For more details about the charity and to find out innovative and fun ways to donate, please go to www.sail4cancer.org or speak to Brian Duckett, Boatshed London: brian@boatshedlondon.com