by Andi Robertson

When Nigel Biggs and his crew take to the waters of Loch Fyne later this Week, pursuing their class title at the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series, they will head out to the first races on Friday harbouring the same hopes of overall glory which have been at the back of the Cheshire businessman's mind since he first raced at the North of Britain's premier sailing regatta; but he and his crew will have the added comfort of knowing that win, lose or draw, their efforts will be welcomed by one of Europe's leading cancer care and research centres.

Biggs, who first took on the capricious challenges of Loch Fyne exactly twenty years ago, will campaign this season in the very competitive IRC Class 3 under the name of 'Christie Cancer Care', looking to create awareness of the centre of excellence near Manchester which treats over 40,000 patients and which cared for his late father through his own battle with the illness.

"My own father was treated by The Christie during his cancer and received the most fantastic care before his death.  Our involvement with The Christie is a small contribution to trying to avoid other people suffering the way my father did." explains Biggs.

Over the twenty years that the owner-helm has competed on a comprehensive variety of boats moving through from being crew to boat-owner, Biggs and the collection of friends originating in the north of England, the Checkmate Sailing Team, has won their class six times; but so far have never quite managed to get their hands on the overall Scottish SeriesTrophy.

"Sometimes I think we never will, but really it is not part of the agenda when you arrive in Tarbert," grins Biggs. "Like most others who make the annual odyssey, it is about trying to sail our best on the water with our group of friends, to have fun doing so, and then enjoy what goes on on-shore. And if we win anything, that adds to it. But you can't go to Tarbert with hopes of winning overall or you will we disappointed, as we've learned."

Biggs and the crew from 'Christie Cancer Care' race in a class which has three past winners of the Scottish SeriesTrophy in it; including Cork, Ireland's Anthony O'Leary who will arrive with a modified 1720 one design day keelboat which will be something of an unknown quantity.

Based in Manchester, The Christie Cancer Care centre covers a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist centre around 15% patients are referred there from other parts of the UK. 

The Christie is an international leader in research with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. It runs one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year, and the centre has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

While the sailing team's efforts are largely about publicising the centre and its work, they will also keep Christie staff and patients fully up to date with their performance and trials and tribulations at each of the regattas in Scotland, Ireland and England this season, with their blogs and daily reports.

www.christie.nhs.uk

The Christie Press Release