Will Hauver
Scott Benner
I would like to thank Lydall Hauver for her courage and for her desire to support the diabetes community. It speaks to the strength of our community that in the wake of what is undoubtably Lyndall's greatest personal tragedy, she would allow herself to be interviewed. I can promise you that if you have type 1 diabetes or love someone that does, this post and the podcast episode of my conversation with Lyndall will ultimately fill your heart with love, hope and a sincere desire to live well with type 1. So grab a tissue, read Lyndall's post and then listen to me chat with her and Will's good friend Paige, about his life and legacy. - My best, Scott
The tragic and devastating death of our son Will, a beautiful person on the inside, and a good-looking man on the outside, has taught me something very valuable.
One person has the ability to make a positive and significant impact on this world.
More photos of Will at JuiceboxPodcast.com
It has been made clear to our family that Will made a huge impact on many people in his 22 years. The quality of Will’s life, and what he did with those 22 years was incredible. Wherever he went, he made an impact. We have heard over and over again about how Will’s compassion, his way of including everyone, his friendship, ‘saved’ many a friend from transferring from college, from quitting a team, from not joining in a great event. Will had such a handle on the ‘big picture’ - what was important in life. He was often sought out by his friends for advice and help. Using his humor he could really relate his advice without being preachy and condescending. He had such an easy, approachable, welcoming way about him, with the confidence that others admired and respected.
One person has the ability to make a positive and significant impact on this world.
“It is not length of life, but depth of life.”
This past summer Will was nominated to complete the ice bucket challenge for ALS awareness and donations. While donating $48.25 to an ALS charity (to an ALS charity Brigance Brigade) he filmed a video, which is very funny, and created a challenge for the JDRF and “LIVEabetes”. After Will passed away, his good friend from high school, Paige, one person, galvanized behind this comic but meaningful video, and created a movement to raise funds for the JDRF. Through a lot of hard work, a lot of learning about different social media options and a lot of creativity, Paige created a great group of supporters, myself, and my family included, to create a worldwide challenge raising awareness and money for type 1 diabetes. Incredibly, to date, we have raised over $80,000 for the JDRF to fund a cure for this dreadful disease.
Paige and Will, two young people, have made such an impact on this world, simply by being good people. They chose to live their lives by these simple principles: be kind to others, be inclusive, help others, know who you are and do not compromise your morals to fit in and make deep and meaningful connections with people you encounter. After Will’s death people from around the world rallied behind the man he was, to support the Egg Crack Challenge Paige worked hard to promote and grow. We now have an amazing community of friends, new and old, who have banded together to raise awareness and funds for a cure for type 1 diabetes.
One person has the ability to make a positive and significant impact on this world.
Our daughter Megan and Tommy are like Will and Paige, two people who have a keen sense of self, who stay true to that self. Similar to Paige they have worked hard to promote the Egg Crack Challenge. Additionally they have created T-shirts, posters and other item to share the joy Will created as an artist to raise money for type 1 diabetes and for scholarships in Will’s name.
Will told his girlfriend weeks before his death, “Each day is a gift, that is why they call it the present.” His ability to use humor, and kindness to live each day to the fullest, to make an impact on each person he encountered, has rubbed off on me, and on our entire family. This attitude is why we get up each day and try to salvage what we can out of each day, no matter how hard and how sad we may feel. Knowing that one person has the ability to make a positive and huge impact on this world makes me move forward to create my own positive, impact, each day.
- Lyndall Hauver, Will's Mother
You can listen to my conversation with Lyndall and Paige with the player below, on Juicebox Podcast, iTunes, Stitcher or your favorite podcast app.
links you need:
Will's JDRF Donation Page
Egg Crack on Facebook
Will's Egg Crack Video on YouTube
Rollins College Memorial Service for Will
Egg Crack Homepage
Shop for gear and bracelets (Supports JDRF and scholorships)
