Taking a passion for sailing to Manchester Children’s Hospital
Meet Ellia Rhodes – 20 - Saddleworth (Greater Manchester)
From the rolling hills of Saddleworth in Greater Manchester to the open waters of the Peak District reservoirs, Ellia’s journey into sailing is a story of resilience, passion, and giving back. At just 20 years old, Ellia has not only mastered the art of sailing but is also using her skills to inspire and support others, particularly young patients at the Manchester Children's Hospital through sailing days and fundraising.
A Childhood Shaped by the Wind and Water
Ellia’s love for sailing began early. At the age of nine, she joined Dove Stone Sailing Club near her home in the Peak District, a picturesque area known for its reservoirs and windy conditions.
“I learned to sail on reservoirs, one of my favourite places to sail. I did all my stages there and started racing, which was very good as I also got to compete against world champions who just so happened to also be members of the club. It was a dream to race against them, even though I didn’t quite beat them…”.
Over the next few years her passion for the sport only deepened when she moved to Redesmere Sailing Club during the COVID-19 pandemic, initially racing a Laser before swapping to a Byte C2. Here, she embraced competitive racing and expanded her skills by earning her assistant instructor, dinghy Instructor and race coach level 2 qualifications. Furthering her work as an instructor, Ellia went on to take a role at Wigan Council’s water activity centre, linking with the RYA and making connections with the CEO of the Anderton Centre.
A Personal Connection to the Cause
Ellia’s desire to give back through instructing took on a new dimension when she combined her love of sailing with her role as a youth forum member at the Manchester Children's Hospital. Motivated by her own experiences as a young patient and recognising the therapeutic power of the outdoors, she set out to organise sailing days for children and teenagers receiving care at the hospital.
“As a baby I was in the old Children's Hospital and when I was younger, I had a bit of a track record with the A&E but I’ve been involved with the hospital since I was 13,” she says.
“I was approached, asking if I'd like to join the youth forum - it was advertised as the youth executive committee. We have quite a big say within the hospital. We even did interviews for the current Chief Executive who is still the serving CEO.”
“I just thought that I’d like to give back, which is another reason I wanted to do my sail days”.
Despite having a personal interest in the medical field, a career in the profession was not her dream.
As a teenager, she faced a knee condition that forced her to give up dancing, a sport she loved.
“Sailing was the one activity I could do despite my condition,” she explained.
Transforming Lives Through Sailing
Ellia is no stranger to organising impactful events for good. In 2021 she worked on a fundraiser, raising £2,250 through a 10-hour sailing challenge for the hospital. Wanting to continue her work, she states “I wanted to do something similar again, but with the cost-of-living crisis, I didn’t feel comfortable asking people for donations. That’s when I thought, “What else can I do?” As a dinghy instructor, I realised I could organise sailing days for young inpatients at Manchester Children’s Hospital.
In late 2023, this turned into reality. She worked tirelessly to organise two sailing days for young patients from Manchester Children’s Hospital, many of whom had spent months confined to hospital rooms.
“I had the idea to take young patients from the hospital sailing. I spoke with the RYA Sailability Manager, and an RYA Regional Manager from the Northwest and Northeast. They supported the idea, and I approached the Children's Hospital. I wanted to offer these young people a break from the hospital setting and get them out of the whitewashed rooms and beds.”
Convincing the hospital to approve the plan wasn’t easy. Some consultants were hesitant, worried about the health risks for patients with compromised immune systems but Ellia’s persistence and careful planning won them over.
“Some of the patients had health conditions that meant going into the water could be risky, but I reassured them that sailing was safe with proper equipment and professional instruction.” she says. “It was about explaining that it's important for these young people to get out and try something new when they may have thought I'll never be able to do that”.
“It was a lot of work, but with help from my mum and the support of the Anderton Centre, I was able to make it happen. We had two days, with 10 young people each day, totalling 20. Every single participant wanted to continue after the experience. Some even expressed an interest in learning to sail and race. The youngest was 10, and the oldest was 17.”
The response from parents and patients was overwhelmingly positive.
“The feedback was incredible,” Ellia shares. “One parent told me they hadn’t seen their child smile so much in years. Another young person, who had been in the hospital for eight months, finally got a chance to be outside and try something new.”
Looking Ahead
Ellia isn’t stopping here. She is working to secure funding to run additional days in 2025. With support from the RYA, the Manchester Children's Hospital, Sailability and the Anderton Centre, she hopes to expand the initiative and continue offering young patients a chance to experience the water.
She is also pursuing a master’s degree in cinematography, with aspirations to specialise in maritime filmmaking, creating yacht race films and commercials that celebrate the beauty of sailing.
Asking Ellia why she is so passionate about sharing her love for the water with others, she comments “I love teaching people to sail. I love teaching people to do what I love to do. As a race coach, someday I'd like to do my race coach Level 3. It’s things like this which are really rewarding. Teaching someone to sail and seeing as they go for the strength to strength.”