Where grieving families can find rest, reflection, and the space to simply be together.
an initiative of
William's Be Yourself Challenge
William Wolfgang Shaw
12/20/09 - 2/19/19
On February 19, 2019, William died in a tragic ski accident while on vacation with his family in Big Sky, MT. He was 9 years old, in 3rd grade at the Carlisle Public School. William was a true individual. He was known to his friends and family as a kind and quirky kid with wild, wavy blonde hair. He could always be found wearing flat brimmed hats and skinny jeans. He loved what he deemed "extreme" sports, including parkour, skateboarding, mountain biking, and ski racing. William was as comfortable rapping the lyrics to Hamilton as he was climbing the backstop at his brother's baseball game, and he easily became a friend to anyone he met. His heart was huge and he loved with every inch of his bean-pole body. William also struggled with anxiety and self doubt. Through work with a therapist, he learned how to manage his mental obstacles and discovered how to be true to himself. "Be Yourself" was an intention he set for himself in 2018, and for the last year of his life he fully embraced this spirit. His enthusiasm infected all those around him, and his friends have since strived to embody the beautiful mantra of "Be Yourself."
William's Be Yourself Challenge
In the aftermath of William’s sudden death, a group of Carlisle parents came together searching for a way to support their children through grief. What began as a single community event—the William’s Flat Brimmed Parkour Challenge—quickly became something more. Watching their children honor their friend with courage, honesty, and connection revealed the powerful role community plays in healing.
​
From that moment, William’s Be Yourself Challenge (WBYC) was born.
​
Today, WBYC is dedicated to supporting families navigating transformational loss—especially the death of a child or spouse—by creating spaces for connection, remembrance, and healing. Through our pillars of movement, education, and remembrance, we continue to build grief-aware communities where families feel seen, supported, and less alone.
​
Our work has grown to include The Green House Retreat, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to provide families with a peaceful, no-cost place to rest, reconnect, and begin to find their footing after loss. Rooted in the belief that time, space, and community matter deeply in grief, The Green House offers families the opportunity to step away from daily life and simply be together.
​
WBYC was built on the understanding that grief and growth can coexist—that you can miss someone deeply while still moving forward with love, purpose, and connection. We are here to walk alongside families in that space, reminding them that they are not alone.