Why Willow?

So, out of all the millions of deserving charities beavering away for good causes out there, why have I picked The Willow Foundation . Well, I have several, mostly quite personal, reasons which I'll try to explain.

My History with The Willow Foundation.
When The Willow Foundation was first set up in 1999 it was a small local charity based in Hertfordshire, England where I lived at the time. My mum became their very first employee when she began working as P.A. for Megs Wilson (Founder President), so I obviously got to hear about all the great work they were doing and soon got involved with fundraising and volunteering. In 2002 I moved to Spain and it became more difficult, but I managed to keep in touch via the newsletters and have been looking for a way to help out again.

A Special Year
There are a couple of reasons why 2009 seemed to be the right time for me to make my commitment to this incredible challenge for The Willow Foundation.

This year is a milestone as it marks their 10th anniversary, so I really wanted to mark their achievement by doing something special (or really difficult!!).

The second, and more poignant, reason for me is that Anna Wilson passed away shortly before her 32nd birthday and it occurred to me that this year I'll reach my 32nd birthday. I've often moaned about growing older, but this year I'm going to be grateful for turning 32 and really live 2009 in memory of Anna by doing this challenge for the charity she inspired.

Life Changes
Chatting with my mum and a friend a few months ago, they were reminiscing about the best times of their lives, which they thought were in their 20's and 30's (not the 1920's and 30's I hasten to add!!). It was when they met their husbands, when they had their children etc. They then asked me "What's been the happiest time of your life?" I replied "Now".

Between the age of 16 and 40 is often the period when we take many of life's major steps and make special memories. Leave school, graduate university, get your first real job, set up your own home, meet your partner, get married, have children and enjoy them making their first milestones...(not all necessarily in that order!).

The Willow Foundation is there during what should be the most exciting time of life, but for so many it's tarnished by illness, treatment and the horrors that go along with it. As I enjoy this exciting time of my own life and watch my friends making memories with their young families I can only imagine what it must be like to do this under the shadow of a life threatening illness, perhaps not even knowing if you'll have the opportunity to make many more memories for your children... I can't comprehend it, but know I must use my gift of good health to do something for those who bravely face this every day.

© Suzanne Meiklejohn