Jake’s Derby Day

Jake from Tyne and Wear was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2019 and later faced the devastating news that his cancer had progressed. Willow organised a Special Day for him to witness Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby.

At the stadium
Post-match smiles!

“I genuinely loved sharing that moment with my family.”

Jake’s story 


“Being told my cancer had not only relapsed but was now incurable was such an upsetting shock. Follow-up surgery to my spine and radiotherapy has left me with pain in my lower back and hair loss, which has impacted my confidence. My mobility has also been affected, making many aspects of my life more difficult. These are just a few of the side effects, unfortunately.”

“Seeing how happy I was made it even more special for my family.”

“My Special Day was a chance for me and my family to escape the day-to-day routine of life and take the stress of my diagnosis away from our thoughts as we enjoyed our trip. We were able to make great memories in London, and the highlight was having tickets to see Arsenal beat Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby.”

“Seeing how happy I was made it even more special for my family. Arsenal is my happy place. I’ve been to games before, but being there with my mum, dad and sister and showing them why it means so much to me was priceless. I genuinely loved sharing that moment with them.”

Willow provides special experiences for seriously ill young adults, like Jake. Donate today to help more families create lasting memories.