I am happy to announce we have now created a memorial trust in my name (William Forde), called the Walk with William Trust, which is now operational. The trust will administer donations to Guide Dogs UK, under the organisational direction of my daughter Rebecca and wife Sheila.
The aim of the trust is to raise approximately £35,000. This money will be used to train a guide dog for a blind person. The dog will be called ‘William’. Not all dogs who are put through training reach the required standard to become fully supportive guide dogs.
In the event that our first dog does not complete full training, it will be rehomed and another dog will be retrained for our original purpose. By donating £35,000, we will end up with a fully trained guide dog called William who will walk alongside their new blind owner. In this way, the concept of ‘Walking with William’ will continue after my life ends, and as all of you walked with William during my life.you will be able to walk with a William as you decide to follow your dog choice after my passing.
This trust will enable me to be remembered as I would wish. There will be natural stages, such as every birthday of mine, on every anniversary, and at every Christmas time when it might be appropriate for those who have walked alongside me over the past eight years of my cancer journey, to make a donation. Alternatively, family, friends, and Facebook contacts may wish to organise a small fundraising event to remember me periodically to generate funds for this cause.
It is only the love, prayers, and moral support of each of you (literally hundreds and thousands) during my last journey which has made the passage purposeful and more meaningful. I cannot adequately describe in words how much your support has been to me. Despite having had the many medical challenges, and the numerous life-saving operations and other medical treatments along the way, and the pain I have endured, ironically, the past ten years have been the happiest decade in my life since my beautiful wife Sheila and all you dear friends have entered my life. I have literally had thousands of prayers said on my behalf, along with masses across the world, and candles lit on my behalf. I have also had hundreds of supportive messages left to me daily. In short, there has never been a man I warrant that has felt as much loved as I have. You have humbled me with your outpouring and unashamed expression of love for life and for me.
If any of you would like to contribute toward this trust, you will be responsible for enabling other people to have a ‘Walk with William’ experience.
Watch this space for more information and updates about the Walk with William Memorial Trust.
https://walkwithwilliam.muchloved.com/ (Link to donation site).
Love and peace Bill xxx