Community & Business
6 May, 2022
Will-power spurs team to race
A TEAM of mums from Ingham have banded together to help a grieving mother honour her son’s memory by “having a go”, choosing to participate in the 19th annual Great Wheelbarrow Race.
A TEAM of mums from Ingham have banded together to help a grieving mother honour her son’s memory by “having a go”, choosing to participate in the 19th annual Great Wheelbarrow Race.
The team is aptly named, Wheelin’ for Willy, in honour of little Willy Murdoch who tragically passed away just over 12 months ago when he was 12 years old. Willy was described as a “have a go” kind of kid, always looking for new adventures and new things to experience.
Mother Kelly and a collection of her friends have decided to take a leaf out of Willy’s book and put their hands up for the Great Wheelbarrow Race, not knowing it was a 140km endurance race.
“It came about very organically, instead of going to drink wine with Kelly, let’s take a leaf out of Willy’s book and do something positive,” spokesperson Danielle Pappin said. “A lot of us had signed up for this wheelbarrow race, we thought we were going to put a wig on and walk around Mareeba – then the real story came out and what we had really signed up for.
“We’re just fellow mums trying to help a grieving mum in a positive way.”
There are 10 ladies registered in the Wheelin’ for Willy team with around 26 kids between them. “We are honouring Will's life by having a go, supporting our mates and giving 100 per cent, just like he did,” Ms Pappin said. “We are turning our pain of losing him around to power – Will-power.”
