As told by Willy's mum (Sarah Kerby): "We were on a day walk along the Abel Tasman track when Willy started complaining that his legs were hurting. We didn’t think much of it, as he’d already ticked up 22,000 steps that day – a pretty big mission when you’re four!

A few weeks later Willy was diagnosed with a metastatic neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive type of cancer near his kidney. It had already spread to his skull, arms, legs, and spine, and he had a 50 percent chance of making it. We were rushed to Christchurch Hospital, away from our home in Nelson, and life became a series of tests, scans, and ‘sharps’ (Willy’s name for injections).

Willy was a bit nervous the first time he received new blood, but we talked about what a special gift it was, and how some kind stranger had cared about him so much that they went down to donate. He’s also very motivated by earning a special red bead for his necklace detailing his cancer journey. He always looks a little bit like a ghost when he is due for a transfusion, and you can see his colour and energy levels change completely once he has some new blood go in.

My workplace has been incredibly supportive of our journey. We learned there was going to be a mobile donation clinic across the road, so the communications team sent out an email about Willy, encouraging everyone to head down and donate if they could. They booked out the donation clinic immediately, with many donating for the first time, or the first time in a while.

I can’t begin to describe the gratitude I feel for everyone who has donated such an incredibly special gift. Every transfusion he has improves our quality of life so much, and gives us more special time together. I hope that Willy has inspired others to become lifelong donors, to keep helping others who need it too. We’re all looking forward to the day where we can take on the Abel Tasman again.”