Willow News - May edition
Welcome to the May edition of Willow News. Can you believe that we’re almost half way through 2024? There’s still plenty of time to make a difference and help more seriously ill young adults to make precious memories with their loved ones.
Jade's Special Day
"It's made me more determined to get better and get back to my old self again."
Jade, 32, from Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire is on continual dialysis for renal disease. She took a rare day off from treatment for her Special Break in London where she created precious memories and got some of her freedom back.
"My diagnosis changed my life completely. After chemotherapy I got chronic kidney disease as a result of the treatment, so going out and having my freedom has been massively impacted.
On top of that, everything is a lot more expensive at the moment so we have to budget our money more carefully and have less to spend on things that we enjoy.
Our Special Break out in London was amazing and just what we needed. We had the best meal we had ever eaten at Fallow Restaurant | Certified B Corp . The manager went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable.
Thanks to Willow, we made some incredible memories and I even took a rare day off from treatment. It was great to not have to worry about being back in time for treatment and to have my freedom back, even for a short while. It's made me more determined to get better and get back to my old self again."
Our partnership with Beauty Banks
"Since losing my hair and my confidence, I haven’t done that as much and it may sound silly, but receiving a new palette brought back that excitement.”
With the support of our friends at the charity Beauty Banks , we have been able to send pamper boxes to young adults facing serious illness.
These boxes are filled with a variety of beauty products and toiletries and are aimed at brightening someone's day during what can be their toughest times.
Last year, we sent nearly 200 pamper boxes and will continue to provide these in 2024 and beyond with the support of generous donors.
“It’s truly amazing what you guys do and it was so lovely to receive something like that. As a make-up lover I was extremely excited to try it! Before treatment, I would do my make-up all the time. I’d love to experiment - I have done since I was young. Since losing my hair and my confidence, I haven’t done that as much. It may sound silly, but receiving a new palette brought back that excitement.”
- Beauty Box beneficiary
The 15th Willow Shoot
The Willow Shoot took place on Friday 26 April, held once again at the prestigious Royal Berkshire Shooting School and organised by Paul White MBE and Greg Nicholson.
Twenty three teams competed in a full day of clay pigeon shooting, including a champagne reception and a delicious three-course lunch.
The very first Willow Shoot took place 15 years ago, and since then has raised an amazing ￡1 million. It's a fantastic day, enjoyed by supporters who return year after year, as well as welcoming newcomers who are shooting for the first time.
We would like to say a big thank you to all involved in making the day a success, including sponsors RBC Brewin Dolphin , Capital Industrial LLP and Knight Frank .
Can you help us make a difference?
The support from Beauty Banks is just one example of how we have been able to deliver much needed treats for seriously ill young adults, while keeping costs down to allow for even more memories to be made.
We are always keen to talk to companies that can donate goods or services to help deliver experiences or treats, or who can support our fundraising efforts by offering an auction or raffle prize.
If this is something you would be able to help with, please get in touch via the email address below.
We would love to hear from you if you want to help more people make precious memories with loved ones. Please contact [email protected] for an informal chat.