Walk 4 William will see 170 groups nationally, and five groups overseas, walk through their suburbs in an attempt to bring the four-year-old home.
The initiative takes place on September 12, marking one year since William, then three, disappeared from his grandmother’s home in Kendall, NSW.
Karen Boland conceived the idea for a national awareness campaign in April after NSW Police found new information to suggest the missing child from the mid-north-coast may still be alive.
“I was watching the news and I just got frustrated. We were asking Australia to dig deep into their pockets,” she said.
“We’ve got a little boy out here. He’s just turned four, [and] police believe he’s still alive.”
The mother from Western Sydney became disheartened further when police made a link between William’s disappearance and the investigation into a pedophile network in the area.
“We’ve got a little boy out here. He’s just turned four, [and] police believe he’s still alive.”
She formed a committee of 14 people, with 190 organisers now working with local councils to ensure effective walks.
“It’s ok to have an idea, but it takes a lot of people to execute it and that’s what’s happened here,” she said.
William’s mother, who can’t be named for legal purposes, made a plea for her son’s return in a video released by NSW Police in April.
“If he is alive, I want him to be safe. I want him to be feeling loved and I want somebody to be looking after him,” she said.
“We need to know where he is and we need to know what happened to him. Because we can’t live forever, like this, just give him back.”
“If he is alive, I want him to be safe. I want him to be feeling loved and I want somebody to be looking after him.”
Ms Boland, who has never met William or his family, felt compelled to act. “He represents Australia’s missing children,” she said.
“I think of my granddaughter and my children. If something like that ever happened to my children, I’d never forgive myself. I can’t imagine what [his] parents are going through.”
The organiser is hoping the national effort will create a more proactive community response to similar incidents in the future.
“We need to make sure we don’t wait ten months next time. All Australians (will) get up. We walk out our front door, we look left and right and see if there’s anything suspicious.”
Those on a Walk 4 William are encouraged to dress as Spiderman, as William was when he went missing last year.
Anyone with any information regarding William Tyrell should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
