Willow were delighted to send Jess to Aardman Animation Studios for her Special Day on 27th March 2008 My name is Jessica, I'm 24 and from Suffolk. I have Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), a genetic condition that causes growth of multiple benign tumours throughout the nervous system, most commonly seen in the brain and spine. NF2 varies vastly from individual to individual. Currently there is no cure, but we can all hope for the future. In late 2007 I was fast approaching some major surgery to remove a brain tumour. My mum contacted the Willow Foundation who arranged a special day for me to visit Aardman animation studios, the creators of my much loved childhood characters Wallace and Gromit. Not only did the special day provide me and my family with precious memories, the build-up to the day supplied us with a positive focus and something to look forward to, which helped to dilute the dread of my forthcoming surgery. On the day at the animation studios we were very lucky to witness some of the scenes from Aardman’s new film 'The Pirates!' in the making. We were sworn to secrecy about the movie and were so thrilled to go and see the finished product at the cinema in early April 2012, 5 years later! Seeing the movie reminded me of all that the Willow Foundation had done for me and my family at that difficult time and I felt that I was then in the position to give something back. When my friend Charlotte and I decided to hike Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail - an unbroken 84-mile trail stretching from coast-to-coast across the UK, from Wallsend in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west – in aid of charity, the Willow Foundation was a clear choice. We hiked for nine days, beginning on 10th August 2012. The walk was a huge challenge for me in particular due to effects of NF2 which have caused total loss of function from the balance nerves in my brain, as well as an undeveloped and weak left leg. Total sight loss in my left eye adds to the strains on my mobility. But physical weaknesses can be overcome by mental strengths, and completing the full 84 miles of Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail proves to both myself and others that while I may have NF2, NF2 does not have me. Raising funds for the Willow Foundation was our driving force and we felt extremely positive about being able to give something back so that others can enjoy special days just as I did. Just a few weeks before Charlotte and I set off on our challenge, I received some sad news from one of my best friends who also suffers from NF2. My friend Laura had already had a tough time with NF2 - living with total deafness, difficulties vocalising, and being wheelchair bound the majority of the time - but her MRI scan back in July 2012 unfortunately revealed that some of the tumours in her brain had grown in such a way that surgical removal is no longer an option. Therefore, pain management and our best efforts to improve her quality of life is the new plan of action. It occurred to me that I now had the perfect opportunity to help make some precious memories for Laura by arranging a special day for her through the Willow Foundation. Our hike of Hadrian’s Wall and fundraising efforts suddenly escalated from being personal to being extremely personal. We managed to fundraise over £2,500 in aid of Willow, and we are sincerely grateful to everyone who supported us. Laura, her husband Darren, and I went to Colchester Zoo in September 2012 for Laura’s special Willow day. We were all set up to shadow some of the zookeepers and got up close and personal with the lemurs and mandrill monkeys – Laura’s favourite animals! The lemurs delicately climbed all over Laura’s arms, shoulders and head in a desperate attempt to get the food pellets we were given to entice them over. The mandrill monkeys were slightly more aggressive in their attempts and one got a sharp stare and finger point from Laura after snatching some banana from her hand whilst she wasn’t looking - much to the amusement of me, Darren and the zookeeper! Despite her difficulties Laura has a wicked sense of humour, a heart of gold, and a fierce spirit that inspires me personally to battle through my own challenges with NF2. One of my favourite quotes goes: “The best feeling in the world is seeing someone smile and knowing that you were the reason why”. Although Laura cannot smile in the conventional way due to facial paralysis, I know that her heart was shining brighter than the sun on her Willow special day. Thank you, Willow!