Dawn French
"Good luck Olly, you are an utter inspiration as well as being a totally hot dude!"

Timothy and Shane Spall (The Princess Matilda)
"The tiny Valiant yacht, Jolly Olly, came into the marina. Oliver Rofix the skipper is 25 and like my husband, the actor Timothy Spall, he has survived leukemia. "Olly's the valiant one!" Tim said the next day as Jolly Olly followed us out of Amble marina. The Princess Matilda weighing 35 tons, heading south and Olly going north. "I've seen bigger boats in Battersea boating lake!" Tim exclaimed. "Good luck Olly!" we both shouted as we waved him goodbye. "See you back in London." But Timothy and I know what treacherous times lie ahead of him. If you are lucky enough to meet up with Olly help him on his way. Food, fuel, a free berth, put cash in his bucket and if you know any man under 25, get them to have a simple blood test, it may save someone's life! "

Matt Hall (my donor)
"From the day I joined the register and gave a simple blood test, all I wanted to do was help save a life. My bone marrow donation caused me little discomfort and was a team effort by so many. My aim has been achieved through Olly and now I wish him all the best in the challenge that now lays ahead of him on the Jolly Olly."

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon
"I congratulate Oliver on his remarkable journey, which demonstrates how people can go on to live fulfilling, active lives after receiving a bone marrow transplant. But this shows just how important it is that we provide more opportunities for people to register as volunteer bone marrow donors. The partnership between the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) and the Anthony Nolan Trust provides SNBTS with the opportunity to promote the bone marrow register to the 1,000 donors who give blood every day."

Rick Stein

The Wurzels

Pete Townshend

Sarah Donohue
"I was introduced to Olly at Cowes Powerboat week which is my usual haunt at the end of August. He had a few questions on sponsorship so was directed towards me as I've been racing Powerboats for 17 years. We spoke briefly, but that evening I couldn’t stop thinking about Olly and his plight. I’ve worked tirelessly for charities for years and thought maybe I could help just a little bit more than just advice. Olly by chance was outside China China where the whole of our team were eating with many Chinese Diplomats and a full house from the Chinese Embassy. Olly was welcomed in and for some reason Olly is in all our team shots and even on footage broadcast to China!! Way to go Olly! I even seem to remember an XFactor semi finalist who was singing at the restaurant having her photo taken with him! I have to say Olly, you make my powerboat crash seem like a walk in the park and I’ll be helping you however I can. I hope more people get involved with your Quest and help however ever they can. You are an inspiration, as well as being very hot... I miss you already, you have so much to give x"

Jimmy Buchan (Skipper of Amity 2 'Trawler Men')
I asked Jimmy if he would like to come sailing... He replied "I wouldn't cross the Bay in this tiny boat, let alone take round the country! But I admire what your doing." Comforting I thought, a trawler man who's used to the hardest of seas wouldn't cross the Peterhead Harbour Bay in the Jolly Olly.

David Suchet
"Stem cell donors save lives. Olly is the proof!! Please come forward. Wish you all the best of luck on your travels."

Geoff Holt MBE, record-breaking disabled yachtsman: "Having sailed around GB myself a few years ago, I know exactly how tough this is for Olly. But in many ways, what he is doing is not about the sailing, it is about demonstrating the determination and perseverance of the human spirit. Overcoming leukaemia was Olly's first greatest challenge. His circumnavigation of GB is his current challenge. We look forward to hearing what he has planned for the future"

Oliver's Travels

Hello, my name is Oliver Rofix and I am lucky enough to have survived LEUKAEMIA. I wouldn't be here without my donor and the support of family, friends and the various organisations dedicated to defeating this terrible illness.

Now I want to give something back!

My Challenge

Is to recruit 40 new potential life saving donors (within my 18-25 year old male target) and fund them to the sum of £4000 in aid of Anthony Nolan as I sail around the UK.

Since I started, hundreds for people have emailed me to tell me they have joined the register through hearing about my story but are outside my target. Thank you so much for taking the time to join though. Maybe one day you will save someone like me!

1200+ Donors Recruited To Date

I am trying to target males between the age of 18-25 but never the less almost anyone can join if your between 18-40 and healthy.

How do I join the register and become one of the donors recruited and help Olly´s challenge?

It´s EASY!

Either come and see me on the boat when I´m in a marina and I can give you the medical form to fill out, then I can add you to my list.

Or

If you cant get to the boat you can join online on the Anthony Nolan website. If you do this please could you contact me so I can add you to my list.

How am I going to do it ?

By sailing the boat (a Valiant 18) that I bought just before my transplant, (Jolly Olly), around the coastline of Britain in 2011. The voyage will take approx 8 months and I will be sailing round the top of Scotland. Stopping every night if possible at a harbour to raise awareness through local media of what I am doing; I am also hoping to meet other young people who have been affected by cancer.

I started my challenge on March 28th 2011