Claire payed us a visit at Olympia when she was on the hunt for her very own Berry Pony, but more important to speak to the #WonderPony himself about having a very special Willberry Wish granted. 

Sadly Linda, Claire’s mother, had terminal lung cancer but she still had a lifetime dream, to go to the races. However Willberry’s help was needed, sadly Linda’s dream had a shorter deadline to become a reality due to her diagnosis. Nonetheless she was a fighter and determined to go before she became too poorly. Time really was of the essence with this one and Christmas didn’t help matters, but Willberry managed to send Linda and her grandson to Sandown on the 6th January. Not only this but they were treated like the VIP’s they are, with a stretch limo to take them there and a 3 course meal to keep them refreshed!

Linda said that she and Martin had a totally brilliant day (and the steak was the best she'd ever eaten!), the cherry on the cake was Martin ringing the bell for the jockeys to mount. The gorgeous smile and special thank you to Willberry and his team really is what gets Willberry up in the morning.

A special silver Willberry charm was gifted to last as memory, and this was indeed an incredibly special one. Sadly Linda lost her battle with that horrible C word on the 8th March, so Willberry continues to send his heartfelt love to Claire, Martin and the rest of Linda’s family.  

Kerrie contacted Willberry in hope of a wave of his magic wand. Her friend Helen had always dreamed of experiencing riding side saddle, but she'd been dealt a poor hand and currently is enduring a tough fight with breast cancer, that has spread it horrid self into her bones. Kerrie was explaining this to Willberry and his mind began to whizz, how could he make this dream come true.

Unfortunately cancer doesn't always follow the same schedule; Helen's wish had to be delayed a number of times due to operations and then the incredibly sad loss of her mother to cancer. Willberry wand began to wave, then poor Helen was kicked by a horse, putting her out of action yet again.

Helen kept unbelievably strong despite everything- this made Willberry even more excited when in December, with the generous help of Grade A side saddle instructor Lucinda Sims, Helen's wish was finally granted! Helen was able to fulfil her dream- going to Lucinda's yard and riding her side-saddle school master.

Not a memory will be lost as the fantastic Katie Mortimore very kindly captured the many beaming smiles. Those smiles are what this is all about! A few moments to escape. 

Thank you so much to every single person involved in making this wish come true. 

Willberry's been waving that magic wand of his again...

This time its for Grace. Some of you may remember Grace's story from earlier this year, as in true Willberry Magic it was her father Ben that was the winning jockey in the Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity Race at Cheltenham.

Whilst she was stuck receiving treatment for Leukaemia she missed out on a trip to Chessington World of Adventures. Bellaberry, Grace’s very own #wonderpony, was right by her side through all off her gruelling treatment so Grace thought it only right the two of them trotted off to Chessington together when Willberry worked his magic.

11 year old Jemma Marlow was one of the first Willberry Wishes to be granted. Jemma was diagnosed with osteosarcoma earlier in the year and is yet another incredibly brave and inspirational individual. Like many others Jemma was an avid follower of Han and Willberry so a friend contacted us to ask if it would be possible to loan a berry pony to help put a smile on Jemma’s face and give her a much needed boost. Willberry felt Jemma really needed her own berry to help her through the gruelling rounds of treatment.  “Spicaberry” as he is now known,  has not left Jemma’s side since he arrived and has settled in to his role of nurse, companion and all round wonder pony with great success.Jemma recently had an endo prosthesis fitted to replace the cancerous bone and is having to learn how to walk again as well as finish her chemo. She is planning to get back on her pony Socs imminently and we all wish her the best of luck for the future and keep everything crossed she continues to #kickcancersbutt.        

I'm writing this blog for Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony Charity for fulfilling my wish to go to Badminton Horse Trials on Saturday 6th May. I had the most amazing day, memories for my family and I to cherish - and my Assistance Dog Molly enjoyed herself too.

I'm Lucy Watts MBE, I'm 23 years old and I have a life-limiting neuromuscular disease. The condition has left me with multi-organ failure and with lung, bone, spine, metabolic, renal, Autonomic, urological and immunological complications. They mean I'm fed via a Hickman Line into my heart (TPN), I'm in a wheelchair and that my life expectancy is very limited.

I grew up watching Badminton on television every year, from the age of 7. A horsey girl at heart, I rode from the age of 6 until I became disabled and seriously ill aged 14. Had I not been physically fit from riding and working at the yard, I would've ended up in a wheelchair years before I did. I never had my own horse, rather riding 'Projects' for my riding teacher, loaning friends' horses and being the chief holiday horse carer, when people went on holiday I was the one they entrusted their horse's care to. I'd have loved to have evented, but not having my own horse put paid to that. Instead, I spent my time bringing on youngsters or rescued horses, with a particular affinity for nervous horses - even now, I've managed to get my electric wheelchair next to horses who are terrified of everything. Once a horsey person, always a horsey person. It never leaves you. 

It's been my dream since I first watched Badminton aged 7, to actually go to Badminton on cross country day. It's just never happened; until this year. Willberry Wonder Pony granted me a Willberry Wish, which realised my long-held dream. I am so grateful for the opportunity they gave me.

We had an amazing day. I attended with my mum, my uncle and my nurse, who were suitably up to scratch on eventing, the rules and what riders to watch by the end of the day. We made our way to a few different jumps, me taking hundreds of photos, watching the action unfold, as well as looking round the stands. You don't appreciate the size of the jumps when you watch on television, nor do you experience the incredible atmosphere. Just being there was an experience in itself.

Then, at the end of the day, the Wishes Team made it possible for me to attend the press briefing with the top three riders. Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke and Andrew Nicholson answered the press questions whilst we watched on with Rachel, Hannah's mum. Then, as the briefing finished, I got to meet Michael Jung. An amazing few minutes speaking to him, almost on par with receiving my MBE from Prince Charles. It was wonderful, the icing on the cake of a truly magical day.

I'm so grateful to all at Willberry and everyone who supports the charity. My prognosis is poor, we don't know how much longer I have left, so to have such a wonderful day and memories for myself and my mum to look back on are more precious than I can convey in words. Going to Badminton this year was a real highlight and something that I will be forever indebted to Willberry for making it happen.

 Thank you all so much.