How Arsenal and the Willow Foundation gave David Williams a very special day out – and a whole lot more
“I’ve had lots of ups and downs in life and some dark times as a child and young adult, but being diagnosed with terminal cancer has given me a clarity that puts everything into perspective.
“I’d been ill for several months and at the beginning of this year I was admitted to hospital. Two days later I was having a brain biopsy to remove a cystic brain tumour. Then I was diagnosed with grade 4 astrocytoma – terminal brain cancer.
“I have two children, a daughter who’s 15 and a son who turned four just four days before my diagnosis. The surgeon looked at me with regret and tears filled his eyes as he informed me that it was ‘highly unlikely’ I would get to walk my daughter Lily down the aisle or watch Henry playing football. I was devastated, but these are the cards I’ve been dealt and I have to make the best of it. I insist on enjoying the time I have left.
“Bob Wilson started the Willow Foundation in Welwyn Garden City so everyone here knows it. I went to Isabel Hospice and my nurse Sharon told me about Willow’s #SpecialDays out for the young and terminally ill. She applied on my behalf and it all happened really quickly. Before I could gather my emotions I was stood in Box 111 as a guest at the game against Leeds United in May, applauding Bob Wilson and the other Arsenal Legends from that era. I had been to plenty of Arsenal matches but this one was very different.