Fundraiser in memory of Will Cowling (1990-2025) 💙

We are raising funds for Pulmonary Fibrosis charities in honour of my wonderful brother and much loved son, stepson, friend and colleague, Will Cowling.

WILL'S STORY

Will was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) in May 2025. IPF can be a particularly aggressive and unpredictable lung disease - Idiopathic means cause unknown, so it's really hard to make sense of how it can affect one person to the next.

IPF is a chronic condition that causes irreversible scarring on the lungs and reduces breathing over time. Drugs and supplementary oxygen can slow the progression and make life more comfortable for people but there is currently no cure.

Will was dealt a cruel hand here. By the time he was diagnosed, the fibrosis had spread to most of his lungs. Two months later he was then diagnosed with Pulmonary Hypertension - a severe heart condition and complication caused by the IPF.

He was told he'd need a double lung and heart transplant. At that point, this would have been the only option to prolong his life. But he was too ill to undergo a surgery as extreme as this.

He fought courageously until the bitter end but lost this fight on August 28th, 2025. He was 35 years old.

Will faced his diagnosis head on - with strength, courage and determination. His words to me: "I'm not going to just roll over , accept it, and wait to die."

Once he had a bit of time to wrap his head around the news, he joined support forums online to connect to others going through a diagnosis of IPF. He sought out support and encouragement in places where people were experiencing the same; in the process, he became a beacon of light and championship for the entire community.

He began documenting his journey on social media, sharing videos of the small battles he overcame each day.

5km on an indoor bike. A drive out in the car on a sunny day. Rehab sessions at hospital with short walk intervals. Progressing to 5km walks in the Peaks, getting outside to hike with his oxygen tanks (up some of the less forgiving Sheffield ascents).

He'd post funny and inspiring reels on his Insta - always with an empowering soundtrack to accompany. His humour stayed throughout.

"Give us some new lungs" he'd joke 🫁 (this became our new fave emoji)

He was honest about the tough days but made time to celebrate the wins.

Most impactful were the wins he celebrated for his community. He always made time to congratulate them for their achievements and send messages of support, even when he was on a respiratory ward in his final weeks.

When he passed away, the outpouring of love, support and response he received was overwhelming. "Be more Will" was a message we read from many.

The same is true of the impact he had on the place where he worked for 6 years, Lovely Pear Cafe in Sheffield.

Will was its heartbeat. Humour, cheer, kindness, generosity, loyalty, commitment, warmth - these are all characteristics of Will and what he became known for amongst his team and customers. He was also an incredibly talented chef.

His passing has ripped a hole in us, as a family, and the many - and there were many - friends who have lost their lovely Will.

Our home has been flooded with love and thought for my brother since he died.

CHARITIES:

We want to raise money in his memory to contribute to two charities connected to Will's illness. The money will be split equally between:

🟣 Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis

🔵 Pulmonary Fibrosis Trust

You can read more about the charities on this page.

DIABETES UK:
Will was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes age 16 and was an active member of the diabetes community. He talked about wanting to become an ambassador for young people affected by this disease. As a family, we will also make a separate contribution to Diabetes UK.

We kindly ask that in place of flowers for the funeral you consider contributing via GiveWheel to our chosen charities.

Love you Will ❤️ 🕊️ Miss you every single day.