Children of Leamington Primary Academy receive magnificent gift from Dawson’s family upon return to school

Leamington Primary & Nursery Academy children returned to school to a great surprise in their playground, all thanks to the generosity of the family of Dawson Willcock.

Two-year-old Dawson Willcock died in 2017 following a diagnosis of a rare cancer, but not before he touched the hearts of the whole community for his bravery and smiles. Following a huge fundraising effort for specialist treatment in America, his family were given the tragic news that it could not save Dawson. The family have since used the money raised to give back to the community who provided support to the family in their time of need.

Dawson’s parent’s Wendy and David Willcock attended Leamington Primary & Nursery Academy with members of their family on the first day of the new term to officially open ‘Dawson’s Fort’, a magnificent playground installation for children of the school to use during playtimes and lessons.

Wendy Willcock said, “When we needed our community to rally around us to try and save Dawson, -parents, strangers, and everyone in Leamington and farther afield really supported and backed us, and we just wanted to give something back. It would have been lovely if we could have done this for all of the schools who supported and fundraised for us, but this was the school that had the connection for us. My children came here, and Dawson would also have come here. I think he would have loved it.

“Dawson had a rare cancer,” said Wendy, “A one in a million chance of getting it and a 9 out of 10 survival rate. But when there is a 9 out of 10 there is always the 1 out of 10. He was 2 years and 2 months when he died. He would be 7 now and would have been at this school.

“Dawson was known for his infectious smile, and laugh, -he was always smiling. David and I both feel that Dawson would have been the type of child who would always have been smiling at school and we believe would have been able to make other children smile, and that is the reason behind the phrase on the plaque.”

The words on the playground structure to be known as Dawson’s Fort read, ‘If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours’ Dawson Willcock 20/09/15 – 24/11/17

David Willcock, Dawson’s Dad said, “We hope that the Fort makes children smile and enjoy themselves, -that’s our hope.”

Pupil at Leamington Primary & Nursery Academy, Elsie Tasker, age 7 said, “I think the fort is big and fun and my favourite bit is at the top of the stairs!” Fellow pupil Aaron Widdowson age 10 years said, “I think its really amazing. I remember that Foundation children used to have a little one but this one is really big. I think all of the children will really enjoy using it and all of us want to say thank you to Dawson’s family. The family donated such a lot of money, and we will always be able to remember Dawson every time we use the fort. Also, when I go home, I am going to write the words that are on the plaque on some paper and laminate it and put it in my bedroom to remember Dawson.”

Evie Doran age 11 years said, “I think it is amazing what the family have done and what they have done for our school. I really believe the children are all going to love using the fort and that it represents the memory of a pupil who would have been at school with us.”

Wendy Willcock said the family will always be grateful to all the schools, community groups and members of the public who supported the family. “We really do want to say a big thank to everyone who supported and rallied around us when we needed them to try and save Dawson. Their efforts will always be appreciated and remembered with a lot of thanks and love.”

At a cost of over £44,000, Dawson’s family donated approximately £38,000 to the project and the academy paid the remaining amount. Kaye McGuire is Head Teacher at Leamington Primary & Nursery Academy and said. “This gesture has truly touched the hearts of everyone at the academy, -the staff, children and their families. We will always be grateful and will hold Dawson in our hearts, -and Dawson’s Fort will provide not only fun and laughter for our children, and a fantastic outdoor learning space, but will remind us of Dawson for generations to come. We want to thank the family for this wonderful gift to our children and we will cherish the memory, and the beautiful words, and will honour those words by sharing our smiles in his memory.”