SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Nine-year-old Willa, a patient at Shriners Children’s Salt Lake City, is experiencing the thrill of a lifetime.
This week, Willa has attended the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix, thanks to a heartwarming connection that began with a creative Halloween costume and grew into an international story of inspiration.
Born with cerebral palsy, Willa has been receiving care at Shriners Children’s since the age of four. Her condition limits her mobility and upper body strength, but her spirit and enthusiasm for Formula 1 racing has never wavered. Last year, Shriners Children’s staff transformed her wheelchair into a replica of her favorite driver Oscar Piastri’s Formula 1 car for Halloween. The moment quickly went viral.
“If you could have seen the look on Willa’s face the day her chair became an F1 car or when she took her first spin in her electric wheelchair, you would know exactly how impactful Shriners Children’s is,” said Willa’s mother, Melissa. “Shriners Children’s has literally transformed our daughter’s life for the better.”
The viral post caught the attention of Formula 1, McLaren, and Piastri himself, who sent Willa an autographed helmet. That gesture sparked another wave of social media buzz and ultimately led to an extraordinary surprise: tickets to the Las Vegas Grand Prix, along with hotel accommodations and special experiences courtesy of the event organizers, including meeting the Australian racer.
“Willa is driven, passionate, and unstoppable. She truly embodies the spirit of Formula 1,” said Jeremy Walters, Community Engagement Director for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. “Her journey as a fan is nothing short of inspiring, and we can’t wait to share the excitement of the race with her and her family.”
Willa described how often people will treat her differently or talk down to her, but her experience in Vegas proved to be something entirely different. “I even gave Oscar some tire strategy and he took that seriously. It was just so nice and so cool, for me, for those people here who are famous or have their stuff to do, to connect with me but, also, respect me and acknowledge that I’m a nine-year-old human.”
The mega-fan also gave Piastri a homemade “Go Oscar” bracelet as a good luck charm, which he immediately put on.
When asked about her condition, Willa stressed the importance of people understanding her independence. Despite every cerebral palsy case being different, Willa shares a message she hopes everyone can remember, “You still need to look past the chair and at least give who they are a chance.”
At Shriners Children’s, Willa continues to receive comprehensive care from a dedicated team of therapists and specialists. She has received multiple custom-fitted chairs to improve her mobility and independence.
Looking ahead, Willa dreams of continuing to gain independence and one day attending college to become a paleontologist. For now, she’s focused on cheering for her favorite driver in person at one of the most exciting races in the world.