Mudeford man sails around 262 islands for Cancer Research UK

Retired air traffic controller Ken Fowler received the 'Fundraising Volunteer of the Year' award at the charity’s annual Flame of Hope ceremony in Bath, which acknowledges remarkable efforts in volunteering made by people from all walks of life.

The 58-year-old, who faced more than his fair share of challenges circumnavigating every island off the English and Welsh coast, was described as a ‘force to be reckoned with’ who has ‘gone above and beyond’ to raise over £75,000 for Cancer Research UK and the Oakhaven Hospice.

Ken, who lost his father and mother-in-law to cancer, said: “I’ve cried on that boat more than anywhere else in my life but when things got tough, I always looked at their photographs to help me keep going.

“People who go through cancer go through much worse than what I faced during the challenge. My dad was one of six siblings and sadly five of them died of cancer. The disease has decimated my family so that’s why raising a massive amount of money to fund research is so important to me.”

Ken’s mission to make a difference began over seven years ago when he boarded his four-metre long RS Aero dinghy called Yoda, to sail 865 miles from Lands End to John O’Groats with the aim of raising £50,000.

But when he fell £13,000 short of the total, he was left with what he described as ‘unfinished business’ and began an entirely new endurance challenge to fulfil his promise of reaching his fundraising target.

Ken said: “Sailing around these islands has never been about me achieving something or it being something I’ve always wanted to do, it’s always been about cancer.

"Having that as my motivation has meant I’ve sailed the equivalent of crossing the Atlantic, which is incredible in a small bit of plastic that I love and we’ve encountered dolphins, puffins, seal colonies and even the famous Wally the Walrus.”

For every magical memory made, Ken’s courage has been pushed to the limit. During his first challenge in 2017, he had to be rescued by the RNLI twice but then switched roles in August 2022 mid challenge, when he then rescued three teenagers from a notorious stretch of the Norfolk coast.

Recalling some of the close calls, Ken said: “When I took on a treacherous body of water off the coast of Wales called Ramsey Sound, I was making very slow progress through 8-10ft of standing waves – it was brutal.

"Suddenly I capsized in an area where my shore crew couldn’t see me but thankfully I was tethered to my boat.

“It took me a couple of minutes to get my boat back upright and in that time I’d drifted backwards over 220metres.

"It meant I had to sail through it all over again and I was really nervous and really scared but had just stick at it to try to get through it.

“Another time I was sailing on a beautiful flat calm sea when a gigantic liquid nitrogen tanker turned up. I looked to my right and there was suddenly a tsunami heading towards me. It was really frightening.

“And on one occasion in Cumbria, the tide was going out faster than you could run and I found myself stranded. We needed to complete the island though, so my support crew, Earl and I, had to carry the boat to the water, getting caught up in quicksand along the way.”

Terrifying tidal patterns and wavering weather forecasts also wreaked havoc with the schedules and Ken and his support crew were frequently forced to bide their time in wait for the perfect sailing conditions to launch the boat.

Ken said: “There was definitely an element of frustration when the forecast changed and we couldn’t sail.

"Over four years, we drove about 6,000 miles just to reach the coastlines to launch the boat. Sometimes we’d drive five hours, wait around and then have to turn back due to the weather being too dangerous to sail.”

At several points Ken was forced to capsize his dinghy in order to clear various low bridges to make it round an island and not every stretch of water was easy to access either.

Ken and his varying one-man support team could often be found trying to negotiate the coastline’s natural surroundings, taking long walks carrying Yoda just to make it to the water.

But as the delays brought both disappointment and despair, there was one hold-up at Milford Haven in Wales that gave Ken an unexpected connection to his late father.

He added: “I happened upon an old disused airfield and discovered that when my dad was in the Fleet Air Arm, he’d been posted there in 1952 and 1953.

"I got to walk down the runway and thought that at some time, my dad might have walked down that same strip which felt quite magical and made me feel really close to him.”

The strangers Ken met along the way were also a great comfort and source of motivation.

“I met one lady called Julia on island 150, who was the first person to offer us a hot cup of tea as we landed, and she shared how she’d lost her sister as a teenager to cancer," Ken said.

“Another stranger on the Isles of Scilly would wave as she watched me launch my boat every day from the beach below her flat.

"She was shielding as she was going through breast cancer treatment and on the last day, she gave a £20 note to her husband to give me for my efforts. Those were the kinds of people who really inspired me to keep going.”

After four years and 261 islands, Ken’s final island had to be the Isle of Wight where he could set off and return from his coastal home of Mudeford.

"The 71 nautical mile journey to complete his epic endurance challenge should have been straightforward but resulted in the longest single-day sail of all 262 islands.

Ken said: “As I launched for the last time, I was really looking forward to coming home at the end of it and just enjoying the day. I had a friend who sailed alongside me at the start which was really special and then the support RIB was due to meet me – but it broke down.

"It was like de-ja-vu of my very first challenge when they also broke down around the Isle of Wight – we couldn’t believe it.

“I made it round to the south side of the island, past The Needles where I was greeted by a boat which had my wife and some friends on board and knew I was now officially on my way home. But I faced some really tricky winds which meant my final sail was 13.5 hours long.

“I literally staggered off the boat, I was so tired, but it was so fantastic to have completed it and to arrive at my sailing club. I did a water angel in the shallow to celebrate. It was really wonderful.

“I couldn’t have achieved what I achieved without all the support crew, my wife who is my biggest supporter and all the people who have continued to donate to my page - even now. Receiving the award is lovely but it’s not about me or about sailing around islands – it was about cancer and the motivation to go and fundraise for research”

You can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/yodare-cancerresearch

After launching his boat 88 times, sailing for 264 hours and clocking up 1,336 nautical miles  to complete all 262 islands, Ken was presented with the Fundraising Volunteer of the Year  award by Cancer Research UK’s director of fundraising, Simon Ledsham at Hartham Park in Bath. 

Simon said: “Putting his life on hold, inspired by the death of his father and mother-in-law to cancer, Ken’s commitment and contribution to the cause is truly inspiring."

Cancer Research UK’s chief executive Michelle Mitchell said:  “Thanks to the dedication of more than 25,000 volunteers supporting us right across the charity – from keeping our shops running to helping us operate many of our outdoor events and so much more – Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of progress that has seen cancer survival in the UK double over the past 40 years.  

“The Flame of Hope Awards give us the opportunity to celebrate and thank the amazing people who give their time and energy wholeheartedly and who have made outstanding contributions. We are proud to have presented almost 2,000 awards since the first ceremony back in 2003 and to be able to shine a spotlight on their incredible efforts and achievements.” 

Cancer Research UK has more than 25,000 registered volunteers – enough to fill the Royal Albert Hall five times.  

The 2024 Flame of Hope Awards are being held at six events across the UK throughout March. Ken is among 135 individuals and groups being recognised. 

Cancer Research UK spokesperson for Dorset, Elisa Mitchell, said: “These awards are our way of honouring incredible people like Ken who give their time freely to raise money for research and promote greater awareness of the disease. 

“Time volunteered is not ordinary time. It’s time infused with passion, drive and determination. It’s time honouring lost family members and friends. Or extra time gained thanks to advances in research. 

“Every step we make towards beating cancer relies on every pound, every hour and every person. 

“That’s why, with volunteer numbers having dropped significantly due to the pandemic, we’re encouraging people to get involved and start their journey to a potential Flame of Hope Award now.  

“Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and learn new skills, and committing just one hour a week can help make a difference to people affected by this devastating disease.”