The Willow Foundation is the only charity of its kind providing special days for 16 to 40 year olds. Special days aim to provide young adults living with life-threatening conditions a chance to escape the pressures of their daily routine and share quality time with family and/or friends.
Every special day is of the young person's choosing - it could involve fulfilling a lifelong dream or it could simply offer an opportunity to bring some much needed normality back into their lives.
The Foundation will endeavour to fulfil the special day request however imaginative and, if possible, exceed expectations.
To date the charity has organised and funded special days for young adults living with a wide range of serious conditions including: cancer, motor neurone disease, cystic fibrosis, Huntingdon's, organ failure and multiple sclerosis (later stages).
Bob & Megs Wilson founded the Willow Foundation in 1999 in memory of their daughter, Anna who died of cancer aged 31. The charity's name, Willow, stems from Anna's nickname and its aim is to replicate the positive impact special days had on both Anna and her family during her treatment.
Anna, a community nurse based in Hertfordshire, was diagnosed as having the very rare form of cancer, malignant schwannoma, at the age of 26. Over the next five years she was to have 16 major operations, numerous treatments and therapies. Yet it was during these years that Anna, her family and friends experienced some of their most memorable moments and quality times together. When Anna had something to look forward to, her pain was reduced, her spirits lifted and she would feel better. Treats, days out, concerts, shopping trips and just being with friends - simple distractions from her illness - gave Anna the determination and adrenalin to fight on. She wanted quality of life, quality of time and most importantly, when she became ill, she wanted to be treated as normal. It is these experiences that the Foundation aims to replicate through the provision of special days for other seriously ill young adults living throughout the UK.
In 2003 the Wilsons stepped back from the day to day running of the charity, however Bob Wilson remains a trustee and Megs Wilson is Founder President. They are both heavily involved in fundraising activities and are kept informed of every special day organised.
Bob Wilson is the former Arsenal and Scotland goalkeeper and TV presenter.
Find out more about the celebrity patrons and ambassadors who support the Willow Foundation