Willberry received a new Wish application from a lovely lady called Kate for her 19-year-old daughter, Lucy.

Lucy has been battling chronic pain and fatigue for some time, and then recently lost the use of her legs with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND ).  Lucy had been riding at Chiverton RDA near Truro for some time and said the horses saved her life – they gave her hope and purpose.  She also loved to volunteer there, helping with lessons.  "Lucy is the most kind and caring person you could meet" said her Mum, "She brings smiles to all who meet her."

When she lost the use of her legs, Lucy was devastated that she could no longer ride. However, the amazing Diane, who runs Chiverton RDA, also offers carriage driving lessons, meaning Lucy was still able to continue connecting with the beloved horses she had built such a bond with. 

   

She still desperately missed the riding, and that was when Diane suggested contacting Willberry to see if he could make her wish come true.  Diane had worked with other people whose Willberry's Wishes had been granted, so she knew just how much of a difference it could make to Lucy and her family. 

As there was no hoist at Chiverton, the only Centre close enough where Lucy would be able to ride again was at Lakefield Riding Centre near Camelford. 

Willberry was quickly on the case and spoke to Becky who, together with Mark, runs Lakefield Riding Centre.  Both are RDA Advanced Coaches with experience of preparing and taking riders to National Championships and British Dressage Para Equestrian competitions, so there could be lots of exciting possibilities for Lucy in the future.

Becky was able to arrange some lessons for Lucy with Mark, and Willberry was super excited to report back to Kate and Lucy with the exciting news.  They were absolutely thrilled.

Lucy loved her first lesson with Mark, and as Kate said, "She smiled from ear to ear the whole time – until she went to sleep!"  At Lucy’s next lesson they went through a dressage test used in RDA competitions, Lucy was exhausted afterwards!

A few weeks later Lucy was suddenly told that they had entered her for a regional dressage competition - in 3 days' time!!  Flat panic all round as Lucy had no competition clothing, but a frantic phone call to Diane soon calmed the nerves as she came up trumps with a full outfit for Lucy to borrow.  She had to ride a horse she had never sat on before in a routine she had only ridden once but in true Lucy style she rose to the challenge with a huge smile on her face.

   

Incredibly, Lucy came 3rd in her group, which was fantastic, with a score that would have qualified her for nationals, but sadly only the top two scores qualify.  But what an amazing experience, and what a cool customer she proved to be!  We know that Hannah would have been so proud of Lucy and cheering her on every step of the way.  And having had a taste of success so soon in her time at Lakefield, Willberry feels sure Lucy will be telling him about more outings in the future... We can't wait to hear them! 

Our thanks to the tireless and selfless Diane and all the lovely volunteers at Chiverton RDA, and to Mark at Lakefield Riding Centre for his encouragement and support for Lucy.

And to Lucy, we are so proud of everything you have achieved already and know how much more you will accomplish in the future.  The journey is only just beginning, so keep chasing your dreams.  As Hannah always said, "Dream Big, Fight Hard and Never Give Up."

We have no doubt you will achieve your dreams 💖

I have a very special wish story to share with you...

When Pippa’s mum first approached us, it was after Polly, who cared for both Hannah and Pippa at the Royal United Hospital, mentioned Willberry’s Wishes.  Pippa, aged 9, had spent the previous three years bravely fighting a spinal cord tumour, and she had one very special wish – to enjoy a real horse-riding adventure alongside the people she loved most.  She wanted to share the experience with her two sisters and two cousins, making it a truly special family day.

I wanted Pippa to feel completely relaxed and able to enjoy every moment without worrying about any practical challenges.  Hannah knew how important it was for the special people we help to feel relaxed and forget about everything else that is going on. I got straight to work and soon found the perfect place – Riding for the Disabled in Wilton. Sally and her amazing team were determined to make sure Pippa had the very best day possible, and before long all the plans were coming together.

After a little juggling to find a date that worked for everyone, we finally settled on 23rd May – perfect timing for the half-term break. The day approached very quickly, and I have to say I had it all covered – venue, ponies, helpers, photographer, goody bags, picnic tea AND CAKE... because we all need cake!

When the day arrived, the sun was shining and it was very warm. We met Sally and her team early to finalise the plans before welcoming Pippa, Maddie, Eliza, Holly and Sophie, along with their families.  The girls arrived full of excitement and had even brought beautiful thank-you cards and drawings for everyone involved.

     

Soon, five gorgeous ponies walked into the riding school – one for each girl.  Pippa was paired with a handsome pony called Sparky, and the girls were very excited and couldn’t wait to mount their rides!

               

After a few laps around the school to get comfortable in the saddle, it was clear that all five girls were natural riders.  Before long, they headed out into the woodland, where they chatted happily to their ponies and the volunteers leading them, eager to learn everything they could about their four-legged friends.  It made my heart pound when I was allowed to sit on Sparky’s mane for a photograph with Pippa in the woodland!

The ponies behaved beautifully throughout the ride and, back at the riding school, the girls helped untack their ponies before grooming them and giving them their well-earned tea.  Pippa particularly enjoyed pampering Sparky, who was looking especially shiny by the time she had finished.

Then Sally asked if the girls would like to take the ponies to their paddocks for the evening.  The girls were thrilled! I could barely keep up as ponies and riders headed off together.  Pippa certainly wasn’t going to miss out and sent her dad off for a super-nifty gadget for her wheelchair. Within seconds, she was motorised and travelling alongside Sparky as he made his way to his paddock.

            

I have to say Sparky was a little hungry (and a little bit rude!). He kept diverting to the grass verge for a good mouthful whenever he could.  He was super determined and surprisingly strong when food was involved!

After such an exciting afternoon, everyone gathered in the RDA meeting room for a picnic tea, refreshing cold drinks and, naturally, cake.  The wonderful RDA volunteers joined us for tea while the girls chatted and giggled about their afternoon adventures.

            

To round off the occasion, each girl received a rosette and a goody bag to remember Pippa’s Willberry’s Wish.

It was a truly magical afternoon filled with smiles, laughter and precious family memories.  Watching Pippa enjoy every moment alongside her sisters and cousins was incredibly special, and we are so grateful to everyone who helped make her wish come true.

Pippa, keep being the amazing girl you are. ❤️

Lots of love,

Willberry

A special thank you to the amazing team at RDA, Wilton and to Ellie Grimsey Photography.

Willberry’s Wishes were created by Hannah for special people like Ava-Mae and her family.

Nicola, Ava-Mae's Mum wanted to share their story with our supporters. Ava had always wished for her own pony every birthday and Christmas, so at the end of June 2024 we bought her her very own pony. Sadly, just a week later, she wasn’t feeling well at all. We took her to the doctors, where the doctor sat us down and said she thought it could be cancer. Ava was sent straight to Exeter Hospital for blood tests, and the following day it was confirmed that Ava had leukaemia. She was immediately transferred to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children to begin treatment.

Chemotherapy was intense, and Ava became very poorly. She developed candida, a severe thrush infection affecting her mouth and gut. Because the chemotherapy had destroyed her immune system, she couldn’t fight the infection. She later went down for a procedure and, unfortunately, aspirated, causing fluid to enter her lungs. Over the next few days her breathing worsened, and she wasn’t getting enough oxygen. On 27th July, doctors made the decision to move Ava to intensive care and intubate her.

Ava was in critical condition and spent seven and a half weeks in intensive care, fighting for her life. During this time, she also developed sepsis and pneumonia. On 13th August, we received the incredible news that Ava was in remission. On 18th September, she was discharged from intensive care, unable to walk and needing to relearn how to eat and speak. She then underwent intense daily rehabilitation while still in Bristol.

We were later allowed to return home on the condition that Ava could continue outpatient physiotherapy locally, which Vranch House in Exeter kindly agreed to provide. We finally came home on 22nd October. Since then, Ava has gone from strength to strength—returning to school, walking again, riding, and doing the things she loves. Ava’s treatment is due to end in August 2026.

Sadly, Ava no longer has her pony, but once she finishes treatment and regains her full strength, we will look into buying her another one.

As Ava began to feel a little stronger, we knew it was time for her Willberry’s Wish. On her application, Ava said she would love to go to the London International Horse Show with her mummy, daddy, and brother—so that’s exactly what we did.

We set off at the crack of dawn for a road trip to ExCeL for the amazing London International Horse Show. I was so excited to meet Ava-Mae and her family. They had travelled up from Devon the night before, and I hoped they’d had a restful evening at the hotel.

                                           

It was lovely to meet Ava-Mae, Braydon, and their mum and dad, Nicola and Dan. Not only was it Ava’s Willberry’s Wish day, but it was also her 11th birthday. We had a lovely chat, handed over the tickets, and made arrangements to meet later at the show.

They headed off to explore the shops, with Ava spending some of her birthday money—it really was horsey heaven. Time flew by, and soon it was time for the afternoon performance. Braydon was especially excited to see the Shetland Pony Grand National, while Ava couldn’t wait to see it all.

The show was incredible, starting with the CS15* Cavago Six Bar, which had us all on the edge of our seats. Ava was sitting right at the front, completely absorbed.  We saw lots of jumping, some crazy dogs running through tunnels and galloping very fast!  And then lots of little Doris’s with jockeys, racing one another - so exciting! To round off the show, the big man himself, Father Christmas, made an appearance, and I’m sure he even gave me a special wave.

        

I was thrilled that we managed to arrange a personal invitation for Ava and her family to meet Father Christmas and his cheeky elf. He even had a little gift for them—it was such a special moment, and Ava was smiling from ear to ear.

 

As an extra treat to end the day, a lovely lady named Wiggy met us backstage and gave us a guided tour of the stables. Ava even got to meet her favourite Shetland pony, Bonny. Special thanks to Fiona, Wiggy, Reece and Jon for helping to make Ava’s Willberry’s Wish so memorable.

After such a big day at the London International Horse Show, Ava was completely shattered. She returned to the hotel with her family for a special birthday takeaway—the perfect ending to a perfect day.

Team Willberry was delighted that Ava felt well enough to spend Sunday sightseeing in London, creating a truly memorable weekend away for the whole family – Ava keep being the amazing girl you are 💕

PHOTO CREDITS, thank you for allowing us to share these beautiful photos - Jon Stroud Media and London International Horse Show: Peter Nixon | Rose Lewis

Oh my what a fantastic time we had at Horse of the Year Show! I’m still brushing hay out of my mane from all the excitement! But this wasn’t just any day at HOYS... no, this was a very special Willberry’s Wish, and I was over the moon to welcome the wonderful Tegan and her amazing mum, Donna, for a weekend full of magic, ponies, and proper chocolate brownies!

Now, let me tell you a little something about Tegan. She’s faced more than her fair share of hurdles in life — diagnosed with leukaemia at just 3 years old and enduring 17 long years of treatment since. But she’s the kind of person that makes your heart do a little skip — strong, smiley, and totally inspiring. The kind of human Hannah would’ve loved.

Their journey up from Cornwall was a bit of an adventure in itself. Poor Tegan and Donna’s train was delayed, and they didn’t make it to Birmingham until after 6pm! Thankfully, a kind-hearted taxi driver whisked them the last stretch to the NEC and even refused to take a fare (humans can be so lovely sometimes, can’t they?).

When I trotted over to meet Tegan and Donna for the very first time, I was already feeling a bit excited. Every Wish we grant comes with a very special surprise — a Berry pony of their very own — and I was over the moon to discover that Tegan had already named hers Aliceberry, after the wonderful horse she used to ride at her RDA group.

As soon as I met Aliceberry, all smart and snuggled into Tegan’s arms, I knew we were going to be the best of friends. My heart was full to the brim. That’s the magic of a Wish: a little sparkle, a lot of love, and a pony friend by your side, no matter what.

That evening, they had a nice dinner at The Moxy, and then it was off to bed to rest up for a day full of horsey adventures!

Saturday at HOYS had arrived!

The next morning, we kicked things off with some shopping in the enormous hall of horsey delights. Tegan was on a mission for the perfect pair of gloves to help with her wheelchair — and she found just the right ones!

After lunch, we met at the hotel and made our way to the main arena. Some very kind NEC staff whisked us past the crowds to the Press Centre, where we met Debra of Grandstand Media  — she introduced us to the lovely Sarah, our guide for the afternoon. And let me tell you, Sarah knew all the behind-the-scenes secrets...

First stop: the international stables. Imagine the fanciest, sparkliest pony hotels, with enormous horseboxes parked tighter than bales in a haystack. We saw show ponies, massive Clydesdales, dazzling jumpers — every shape and size!

Then, we trotted over to the Pony Club stables, where the six top teams for the Prince Philip Cup were based. Everything was spotless — parents had transformed their little corners into pony palaces, and there were daily inspections for the best-kept stable.

Tegan had a very special moment here too — we visited Wylye Valley, the team closest to Hannah’s heart, and the girls (Bonnie, Ellie, Esme, Evie, and Phoebe) gave her the warmest tour of their ponies and kit. Then we popped by the Staff College & Sandhurst team for another look at the fabulous ponies competing in the games.

   

All that excitement called for a break, so off we went to the Wylye camp kitchen for a well-earned hot chocolate, well "warm" chocolate, with lots of marshmallows and cream. And guess what? Hannah’s famous chocolate brownies were on offer too. Naturally, I helped myself to one... or two.

After some rest and refreshments, Sarah took us to meet the amazing scurry ponies and their lovely human, Alison. This part was extra special, because Tegan has taken up carriage driving at the RDA since she stopped riding. We learned all about the speedy ponies (big and small), and Tegan fell head over wheels for a gorgeous pony called Buzz!

Next we visited the phenomenal UK Vaulting Team who had been wowing the crowds all week with their amazing precision and athleticism.  And we even had the chance to see some of the heavy horses too.

Finally, we trotted by the magnificent heavy horses before heading back to the hotel. Tegan’s wheels got a bit muddy on the way — not every stable is as clean as the Pony Club’s — so we had our work cut out trying to clean the wheels on the grass on the way back!

 Saturday Night – The Puissance

That evening, Tegan and Donna headed into the Andrews Bowen International Arena to watch the main event. The crowd was electric! They saw the scurry final, the astonishing Puissance with the joint winners jumping over 7ft!  and the penultimate round of the Prince Philip Cup. Of course, I nearly lost my voice cheering for Wylye Valley — and they won! I was practically galloping in the stands!

After another cosy night at The Moxy, Tegan and Donna caught their train back to Cornwall. I was a little sad to wave my new friends goodbye, but my heart was bursting. This is what Willberry’s Wishes are all about — sharing moments of joy, magic, and connection, just like Hannah dreamed.

A HUGE thank you to Debra, and Sarah from Grandstand Media and to all those in the NEC, who helped make everything run so smoothly.

And Tegan — good luck with your upcoming hip operations. I’ll be sending you all my Berry wishes and can’t wait to see you back with your RDA friends, reins in hand and dreams in your heart 💕

Bottom of Form

Now everybody knows that Willberry is the original party animal, and always top of the invitation list because of the way he can flash his hooves!  So can you imagine how excited he was when a new Wish application came in for a pony party.   This special pony party was for Ellie, she has osteosarcoma, the same cancer as Hannah had.  Now Willberry had to put his thinking cap on as this one was a bit special.... 10 year old Ellie wanted to have the party at her school so that all of her classmates could be there too – a grand total of 38 children!!!

Well, this was a fantastic challenge, and whilst Willberry knew his fairies have worked a few miracles in the past, he decided that a chat with the staff at St Martin’s CE Primary School would help the wish run smoothly as it would be all hooves on deck!  Our plan was in place, and we couldn’t wait to meet Ellie and her little brother Ted.

Willberry travelled down to Liskeard in Cornwall with lots on board!  His fellow Willberries in jump form, props for our unmounted games, party bags, freshly baked Willberry biscuits and some yummy snacks – and an extra surprise for Ellie of a very special cake for her and her family....  The journey down was a bit foggy and we hoped it wouldn’t rain, but thankfully although it was a bit misty the afternoon stayed dry.  Willberry was so excited when they drove over the Tamar Bridge crossing from Devon to Cornwall! 

When we arrived at the school had done Ellie proud, with bunting all around the playground and her name in big letters everywhere – what a special girl she is 😊

The stars of the show arrived at the same time as Willberry, four adorable ponies from the absolutely fantastic Little Margate Equestrian Centre in Bodmin, owned and run by the wonderful Rachel.   The ponies came out and looked at everything going on around them as if it was a perfectly normal occurrence to be in the middle of a school playground! Well the children were all so excited at seeing them, but obviously they couldn’t all ride at the same time so our plan was to divide them into four groups and rotate between four different activities..... there was obviously pony riding, then face painting with pin the tail on the donkey; another area where Willberry had brought lots of freshly baked Willberry biscuits for the children to ice and decorate and finally some gymkhana games on hobby horses!!  

                   

Ellie’s teacher Miss Nile was amazing, coordinating each group with impressive efficiency so that all the children managed to have fun in every single sector – what a feat!  Many children had beautiful unicorns painted on their faces, the biscuit decorating was great fun and the hobby horse gymkhana was hilarious and hugely popular.  What a lovely group of children, all helping one another.  We gave out little prizes for the winning teams of the gymkhana games, if one team had won again, they passed on their prize to the team that hadn't won, this all came from the children.  

   

The ponies were the stars of the day, and even though Ellie was in a wheelchair she was determined to get on board, and the huge smile on her face when she rode around on the sweetest pony Meg was just the best moment of the afternoon.   Every one of us who has ridden or been close to a horse knows how special this connection is, and how they make us feel is one of the most magical experiences in the world.  Many of the children who had not ridden or been with ponies before made immediate connections with them, which was extra special too.  Perhaps one or two may even become visitors to Little Margate themselves 😊 

   

Finally,   the children were gathered together and went inside for a yummy tea party in the classroom – Willberry had never seen so much popcorn and chocolate fingers, ohhh and cake!!  Miss Nile organized the children to collect their goody bags just before they said goodbye.

There was just one last treat for Ellie from Willberry – an AMAZING cake made by the incredibly talented Niki Lowe Cake Design in Liskeard with guess who on the top..... yep you guessed it..... Willberry!!

This has been the most wonderful and humbling wish to create for Ellie, she is the most incredible young girl with the heart of a lion, and we have been so happy to be able to do this for her at such a tough time.

Our thanks are multiple.... to Miss Nile and all the staff at St Martin’s CE Primary School – you were incredible!  To Niki Lowe – nothing was too much trouble, you were very generous and supportive of our charity, and you made the most beautiful cake that made a little girl very happy..

And finally our huge and heartfelt thanks and gratitude go to the kindness and generosity of Rachel,  Mandy, Jess, Jezzie, Dolcie and Lola from Little Margate Equestrian.  Your unequivocal and immediate support at our request has touched us greatly, and we cannot thank you enough for your time and commitment to make this a most special wish for us all.

                            

And finally to Ellie.... dream big, fight hard and never give up