Sailing Through Cancer

All of the proceeds from product sales on our site go to the support of our non-profit Sailing Through Cancer. Our goal is to  offer the joy of sailing and time on the water to those dealing with treatment and life changes brought upon by a cancer diagnosis. 

Who am I?  I’m James - I started selling Separett composting toilets online in 2010. You know me from many of the product videos. I’m also an avid sailor - which has been a godsend to me over the last few years. In 2014 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer - unfortunately not cured by surgery, I’ve been in treatment for it since. In 2019 - I was diagnosed with unrelated lung cancer - which led to removal of half of my left lung. We hoped that would do it - but in the spring of 2021 scans showed it had spread to my lymph nodes and right lung. Between chemo treatments last year - I was renovating a 1985 Tayana sailboat called the FreeSpirit. It’s now my home and office - traveling the east coast of the US and Islands. I’m on a pill based treatment for the lung cancer -which let’s me stay mobile - thank goodness. I know what an escape from my cancer journey my sailing and time on the water has been -and I’d like to share that with others. Soooo. I’ve begun a program called Sailing Though Cancer - to invite others living with cancer to enjoy time on the FreeSpirit.

What and Why?   Navigating your way through Cancer is stressful and challenging at best - but we can SAIL THROUGH  it for a time - so that’s what we do. Call it escapism - that’s OK. Have you dreamed of sailing? Let’s do it. We’ll work our programs to suit your situation. If you’re just curious - come and have lunch with us in a quiet harbor - more adventurous- we’ve sailed over 15,000 miles in the last few years and always have space for a crew member who could use a bit of a change of pace. Want to connect with us to join in a harbor somewhere to enjoy the beautiful sunsets for a few days - we can do that too!

The process starts by you dropping us a note. Tell us about yourself and your situation. We’ll begin the conversation on how you too can join in on the FreeSpirit for a break from the day to day of treatment and recovery. You can follow where we are at share.garmin.com/FreeSpirit or on our instagram page at SailingThoughCancer.

Funding? Sailing Through Cancer is funded entirely by proceeds from sales at FreeSpiritGear.com. When you join us for sailing time - you come as our welcomed guest.