Lewis meets his mixed martial arts idol

Twenty-two-year-old Lewis is a passionate mixed martial arts fan and had always wanted to go to a live Ultimate Fighter Championship (UFC). After contacting Willow, he was finally able to attend one of the rare UK UFC events.

“Looking back on the event still gives me goosebumps. It’s an incredible memory that made my entire journey feel worth it. I don’t think I’ll ever have a better day.”

Lewis’ story

“In January 2022, I found a lump on my neck and was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. After that, everything moved really quickly. I didn’t have time to think much. I was operated on within three weeks.

“My thyroid was removed as well as the lump and 57 lymph nodes. The operation was supposed to last three and a half hours, but in the end, it took seven hours. I also had radioactive iodine treatment which was hard because I had to stay in hospital, locked away from everyone.

“Luckily, I am now cancer free. I feel well and happy and lead a normal life. Attending the special day helped me be happy again, instead of just accepting what happened. I heard about Willow from my social worker but almost missed out because I thought the offer of a special day was too good to be true, I thought it couldn’t be real.”

The championships

“Walking into the arena was just mind-blowing. The event was sold out and buzzing. I went with my stepbrother.

“We arrived in the afternoon after driving to Manchester. However, the event didn’t actually start until 10pm and didn’t finish until 8am the following morning! The highlight was meeting Daniel Cormier, one of the old champions who had retired but was there as a commentator.

“I must have watched every single one of his fights. He just happened to walk past. I was so excited, I didn’t know what to do with myself. He was so casual and didn’t mind me taking a picture.”

“My Willow special day really helped me move on and be happy again.”

“It’s nice to be able to move on from the cancer. Going to the championship really helped with that. My Willow coordinator was lovely. I thought it was quite a big ask to get tickets to the championships but she just said “No, we can get it done”. Any details I found, I emailed her, and she responded straight away. I can’t thank her enough.”

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