As many will already know, the funeral was held at St Chad’s Church on Friday 21st March 2025 for Will Payne, an exceptional young man who has tragically died at the tender age of 19. This has been utterly devastating for his family. His family are determined to keep his memory alive and in order to celebrate many of the special ways he lived his life, his Mum Jess and brother Oren set out 19 of them, calling it CHALLENGE 19 – 19 challenges for 19 years. Oren read them out at his funeral and his family have requested that this should be circulated as widely as possible, so here they are– a deeply poignant and heartfelt challenge to us all.
“My brother Will inspired me all of my life. He was proud of me, and his family and friends. I would like to ask that you all accept the following 19 Challenges to honour Will”.
- Travel: Take every opportunity to travel, and when you do, please think of Will , of his adventurous spirit.
Will loved to travel. He spent every summer in Canada. In just 19 years he loved travelling and visited New York, Greece – Athens, Crete, Mykonos, Heraklion, Spain, the Canary Islands, France, including Paris and Disneyland Paris, Portugal, Germany, Ireland, including Dublin, Malta, Michigan, Boston.
- Do the right thing. Always. Sometimes this might not be easy, but you will never regret doing the right thing.
- Seize opportunities: do something different or unusual. Try something new.
You never know where seizing opportunities might take you.
- Raise a ‘toast’ through crisps: #RaiseTheLays: On his travels, Will enjoyed discovering all the different flavours of Lays crisps. Try them all wherever you find yourself and raise a crisp to Will as a toast. If you’d like to send us a photo of you raising a crisp, tell us about the flavour and where you are – send to or tag Jess on Facebook.
- Never be a spectator to unfairness. Will understood that life is not fair. Bad things happen to good people. Some unfairness is beyond our control, but, like Will, if you see something happening that is unfair, or causes disadvantage to one group, stand up and speak out. Make the world that bit fairer together.
- Will firmly believed in the power of sport. Will recognized the influence sport can have on confidence and self-esteem and he wanted to inspire others. Go out and inspire people. Please. Lift people up with your kindness. You won’t regret it. The world needs a lot more people who lived as Will did.
- Find joy in looking at sunsets. Will loved sunsets. He loved the colours, the promise of a better tomorrow. When you see a sunset, please think of Will.
- Teach your children to accept and include children who are different. Life would be boring if we are all the same. Everyone matters. Be kind.
- Be someone’s mentor, coach, be the reason they believe in themselves more. Will wanted to be a teacher. He taught people so much. A kind word, or a smile to someone having a bad day. Can you do the same for someone?
- Forgive people who do or say unkind things, for it is always unhappy people who are unkind. Never take criticism from those from whom you would not ask for advice. Everyone has an opinion,
- Believe. Believe in yourself, in the team, in what you can overcome and accomplish.
Life Lesson: Self-belief is essential to achieving your goals. Believe in yourself, even when others doubt you, and keep moving forward.
- Let Will’s ripples inspire your own ripples. What difference can you make? The Author Terry Pratchett said that, “No one is finally dead until the ripples they cause in the world die away. The span of someone’s life is only the core of their actual existence”. Will created so many ripples in his life, of kindness and selflessness. Of care for others, determination to overcome. Many of you have felt those ripples. Remember them, carry them with you, pass them on.
- Pattingham Elf. Every year for over 10 years Will, with the help of his Mum Jess, started the “You’ve been Elfed” Pattingham Elf. They would buy some gifts, leaving them with a note from the “Elf” on the doorstep of a wide number of children, imploring them to be the next Elf and pass along the spirit of kindness and love. What can you do to make Christmas more magical for others?
- Be generous. With your time, share what you have. Donations to SUDEP Action (Sudden Unexpected Death In Epilepsy) in Will’s honour are always appreciated. Every donation counts. https://sudep.org/get-involved/donate/
- Enjoy life like a video game. Will loved video games. His message would be – Approach challenges like a bonus level, every player matters and sometimes you have to press random buttons to see what happens.
- Value experiences over things. Will’s short life was filled with rich experiences. Go and live for him. See things he cannot see. Fill your life with experiences to remember.
- Collect happy moments. Will would spend ages looking at stones on a beach to skip across the lake. He loved to star gaze, or roast marshmallows on the fire. He loved sport: playing and coaching. He loved his family and friends, and he loved being at university. What makes you happy? Do more of that.
- Learn first aid. Will was a St John Ambulance Cadet. Do you know what to do in an emergency? Be prepared in case somebody needs you.
- See potential everywhere. Especially in overlooked people, the quietest people. Will taught us that the quietest people have the kindest hearts.
This Challenge 19 list is also on on willpayne.co.uk
This is a extended version of an article which appeared in the May 2025 edition of the Parish News magazine.