Tilly’s exhilarating skydive

22-year-old Tilly tells us why she chose a skydive as her Special Day. Tilly had been treated for acute myeloid leukaemia and contacted the Willow Special Days team to help her mark the end of her treatments.

“The sky dive was more than just a thrill – it is a powerful reminder of how far I’ve come on my journey.”

Tilly’s story

“I was only 20 years old when I was diagnosed with AML (acute myeloid leukaemia). I then underwent four intense rounds of chemotherapy before going into remission.

“The diagnosis affected me and the people around me in many ways. It limited the amount of people I could see due to the risk of infection and my main source of income stopped as I couldn’t work for more than a year, meaning I had to apply for the benefits that were available to me. I also struggled with travel to and from hospital appointments because of severe fatigue which was one of the side effects of chemotherapy.

“Young Lives vs Cancer and the Teenage Cancer Trust were both supporting me and my family and recommended Willow. Willow was generous enough to offer me, my brother and my stepdad the opportunity to complete a 10,000ft tandem skydive at Chatteris Airfield.”

The skydive

“After my recovery from leukaemia, I had the idea of doing a skydive because I wanted the exhilarating feeling to release any stress that the illness had brought to me and leave it up there, in the air.

“On the day, we had to fill in the relevant forms and complete a quick crash course with key information, getting ready for the big moment. The plane ride was nerve-wracking but so exciting. I was the first one to jump – it was breathtaking. I felt like I left all my worries from the cancer diagnosis behind and that I had started a new chapter when I landed. It’s definitely a memory I will hold forever.

“Willow’s generosity, care and commitment make a real difference”

“I want to thank Willow for organising such a spectacular experience. Willow’s generosity, care, and commitment to creating special moments for people like me make a real difference. I’m incredibly grateful to the entire Willow team for making the skydive possible.”

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