A brave crew of cancer warriors are to land an emotional homecoming in Scotland after completing an epic voyage around the coast of Britain.

The young sailors, who are all in recovery from cancer, were part of a 2400-mile long voyage launched to raise their courage after battling the deadly disease.

"I got involved through the hospital I was being treated at," says Grace, 22, who fought Hodgkin Lymphoma at the Beatson Cancer Centre in Glasgow.

"They offered me the chance to be part of it. I had been on a ferry before but that's quite a bit different."

Grace was one of 125 young people who boarded the yacht Moonspray to take part in an extraordinary relay visiting 58 ports.

The four-month voyage was organised by the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, a national charity that rebuilds confidence after cancer and uses sailing to support, empower and inspire young people.

The young crew has changed on every leg of the journey, with each team of cancer fighters pledging to not only venture out onto the water, but also to visit other cancer patients at each port to encourage them to keep fighting.

"I was a bit nervous before I came but the team were amazing," says Grace. "You don't have to be an expert or sailed before to be involved."

Grace was part of the crew sailing from Oban to Inverness and has now joined the vessel for the final leg of the journey home, with seven inspirational young people set to dock at Largs on Saturday, September 23.

"It's been amazing," says Grace. "The best bit for me personally is the wildlife.

"We were out on the Moray Firth when dolphins appeared alongside the boat. I could see them playing in the spray - they were within touching distance."

Among the final crew is Gourock's Ryan Campbell, 22, who first sailed with the Trust from Largs in 2014 after treatment for Osteosarcoma at CLIC Sargent Scotland and Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre between 2009 and 2010.

"That first trip was the first time I'd ever been on a boat looking back at my hometown and I actually realised how blessed I was," he says.

"The West Coast of Scotland is gorgeous; you don't get to see anything like this anywhere else in the world. It was quite mind-boggling and it will be fantastic to be part of the homecoming.

"I love Trust trips because everyone is treated equally in a safe, fun environment where you gain sailing knowledge and build confidence. There's a real sense of community and at the end of a trip it feels like you're part of a family."

The crew will be welcomed home to Largs Yacht Haven by around 100 Trust supporters, Round Britain crew members, families and friends at a celebratory reception on Saturday lunchtime.

The entire concept for the voyage began back in the year 2000, when Dame Ellen MacArthur sailed with A Chacun Son Cap, a French charity for children with cancer and leukaemia.

Inspired by the incredible impact sailing had on helping those children rediscover themselves in the confusing aftermath of cancer, and by their courage, spirit and humour, Ellen launched the Trust in 2003.

Since then more than 1,550 young people from across the UK have taken part in over 190 Trust sailing trips, overcoming the barriers that can arise after a difficult illness.

Each year 2,800 young people in the UK finish treatment for cancer, but recent studies show that teenagers and young adults remain vulnerable post-treatment because it comes at a time of rapid social and emotional development.

In addition many young people have to deal with body image issues, with side-effects from temporary hair loss and weight gain to permanent scarring, amputation or brain damage, which often manifests itself in very low self-esteem.

The Trust tackles it all by supporting young people to jump aboard their yacht, take to the water and rediscover their confidence.

As Grace, who has now graduated from Glasgow University with a law degree, says: "I think everybody comes out of their treatment with a different thing - some people look different, others have lower energy or don't feel confident.

"Something like this just gives you the chance to think differently about yourself and about what you can achieve."

This year the Trust will work with around 550 young people in recovery from cancer in the UK, though for every young person they currently support, they warn that there are nine they cannot.

Their current mission is to raise enough funds to offer every young person who needs it, the chance to sail and discover what is possible after cancer.

"You can volunteer with the Trust afterwards so I'd really like to do that," says Grace.

"I do really enjoy sailing now which I never expected to. I'd like to thank the crew, the shore team and everyone who made this possible for us."