On Sunday 27 September, over 500 people took part in the Willow 10K, 5K and family fun run at Hatfield Park to raise money for seriously ill young adults.
After a group warm up from New Horizon CrossFit, the day kicked off with the family fun run, a 1.8K race with fancy dress encouraged. From butterflies to Spiderman, there was an amazing range of costumes on show, with a trio of fruits winning the best costume prize. The fancy dress wasn’t limited to the fun run though, with an amazing assembly from the land of Oz making an appearance in the 10K.
Willow’s Honorary Presidents, David Seaman and Frankie Seaman, were on hand to give out medals and delicious Simmons doughnuts to all the finishers, with a bonus appearance from ex-Arsenal goalie and Willow ambassador, Aaron Ramsdale, who took up medal duties after he finished running the 10K with his mum.
David Seaman said: “It was great to see so many familiar faces and lots of new ones too – days like this really make a difference. Willow has been providing Special Days for over 25 years, and has provided over 24,000 Special Days to young adults with serious illnesses. It’s thanks to people like those at the 10K that really make a difference.”
We owe a huge thanks to our sponsors who played a vital role in making the Willow 10K 2026 possible: Simmons Bakers, Wrights Estate Agents, New Horizon CrossFit, Recovery Inc., Davis for Building and of course, our wonderful hosts at Hatfield Park. Their support ensured that the day ran smoothly and was an enjoyable experience for all.
Most importantly, every step taken supported Willow’s mission to provide special days for seriously ill young adults, creating joy and lasting memories for families facing tough times.
Our Events Manager, Mark Caldwell, said:
“The atmosphere at the Willow 10K was amazing, with brilliant support from volunteers and marshals, and so many runners giving it their all. A huge thank you to all of our sponsors and everyone who took part to make the Willow 10K such a memorable event. We look forward to welcoming everyone again in 2027!’
A massive thank you to all the runners, volunteers, and supporters who made the 2026 Willow 10K such a big success. We can’t wait to see you all again next year! In the meantime, discover more ways you can help fundraise by visiting our Events page and support us in raising money to help seriously ill young adults create lasting memories.
