The rumours are true! Our CEO, Jonathan, has pledged to take on the challenge of a lifetime to celebrate Willow’s twentieth anniversary. He shares his plans, what inspired him and what it means to be fundraising for Special Days…
“I’ve been Chief Executive at Willow for a little over two years now and my passion for Special Days is as great as it was on my first day here, if not more. It’s so inspiring to come to work every day and to know the difference we’re making to people’s lives.
But before I worked in the not-for-profit sector, I had a very different career as a scuba diving instructor which allowed me to travel the world. It was during this time that I truly realised how much I love the outdoors and, although my life is very different now, that desire for adventure never left.
Why am I telling you this?
Well, I’ve found my next adventure… and I’d love for you to join me!
It’s my honour to be leading the team as we approach Willow’s twentieth anniversary so, to mark the occasion, I’ve decided to trek the Great Wall of China. With more than a year to go, it’s not quite sunk in yet, but it really is a once in a lifetime experience – not only because I’ll be taking on a such an epic challenge but also because I’ll be fundraising to make sure we can continue to provide Special Days for many more years to come.
So, where do you come in?
As it’s our anniversary year, I knew I needed to do something really special. And what could be more special than being joined by Team Willow? I’m looking for a trek team to join me next September and celebrate twenty years of Special Days at one of the greatest wonders of the world.
The trek will take five days in total so it’s not for the faint-hearted but it’ll be worth it. It will also be tough being away from my family – we often trek together and some of my happiest moments have been on hiking holidays with my family. This somehow makes the trip even more poignant as, when the going gets tough, I’ll be thinking about my loved ones back home as well as all the families whose lives have been changed by Willow’s Special Days.
Will you join me for the challenge of a lifetime?“