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Determined Damien's 12 hour mission
Freak accidents
A fighting spirit
Damien Williams knows all about putting one foot in front of the other to keep going.
Two separate freak accidents blinded him. The first, when he was 13, saw Damien hit himself in his left eye with pliers while trying to pull a nail out of a fence.
Then, aged 27, Damien was blinded in his right eye by an errant golf ball.
After the second incident, Damien was initially in a rut for about a year.
“Stuff just happens and makes life interesting. It was difficult for myself and my wife, but you have to push through and keep going,” he said.
“After a year, I got into sport and never looked back.”
“It was difficult for myself and my wife, but you have to push through and keep going”
Road back
Damien's endurance event for wishes
Damien made a name for himself on a bicycle, winning track and road cycling races.
He then moved on to running, putting on his runners often for charity. One fundraiser Damien took part in was seven marathons in seven days.
The 51-year-old will again put one foot in front of the other on Saturday September 24 when he walks to raise money for Make-A-Wish.
Damien will “walk and sometimes trot” with some mates on a 3.7km loop course in Labrador, on the Gold Coast. He will start ‘Walking For A Wish’ at 5am, and Damien won’t stop until the clock ticks over to 5pm.
“I don’t work since I lost my sight, and I like to contribute to society by raising money for charities,” Damien said.
“Make-A-Wish plays an important role for the parents who can’t afford to give their sick kids what they wish for.”
“Make-A-Wish plays an important role for the parents who can’t afford to give their sick kids what they wish for”
Kind spirit
Wife proud of Damien 'every single day'
Damien’s wife Melissa describes him as “very kind, caring and generous”.
They have been married 26 years and together in total for 34.
Melissa said Damien always sets realistic targets for his sporting and charity endeavours.
“If he puts his mind to something, he will see it through,” she said.
“Given what has happened, for me, I would be like ‘why bother getting out of bed, I can’t see anything’.
“But from the smallest things to the biggest things, I am so proud of him every single day.”
To donate to Damien’s ‘Walking For A Wish’ go to fundraise.makeawish.org.au/damienwilliams
“But from the smallest things to the biggest things, I am so proud of him every single day”
The Wish Journey
How a wish comes to life
1. Wish Capture
1. Wish Capture
Depending on availability, either our Make-A-Wish volunteers or our Wish Catcher team will arrange to meet each child (either in-person or virtually) to capture their greatest wish idea, getting to the heart of what they truly want and why. This is part of what makes Make-A-Wish unique, giving children full creative control while exploring their wish idea.
2. Wish Design
2. Wish Design
Back at Make-A-Wish HQ, we collaborate with families and volunteers, with support of the medical teams, to create the ultimate wish experience for each child.
3. Wish Anticipation
3. Wish Anticipation
In the lead up to the wish, we take each child on an anticipation journey designed to build excitement, keep them engaged until their wish comes true, and provide a welcome distraction from medical treatment. Anticipation can be incredibly powerful, helping to calm, distract, and inspire kids at a time they need it most.
4. Wish Realisation
4. Wish Realisation
This is when the planning, preparation, and anticipation of the wish finally comes true. Children get to experience their greatest wish – it's everything they’ve imagined and more.
5. Wish Impact
5. Wish Impact
Wish impact studies show that a child's wish lives on, long after the moment. A wish gives more than just hope – with an incredible and lasting effect on the lives of wish kids, their families, and wider communities.
