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On Sunday, May 3, the Town of Sudbury will come together to celebrate what would have been Zach Wall’s 21st birthday by observing the town’s inaugural “Be Like Zach Day.”
Zach Wall was a beloved 16-year-old member of the Sudbury community who passed away from cancer. The Be Like Zach Day page states “Zach may no longer be with us, but his spirit, his laughter, and the way he lived his life continue to inspire everyone who knew him. On Be Like Zach Day, we honor him by living out his rules: to love fully, act with kindness, and make every moment count.”
To honor his life and legacy, the Sudbury Select Board recently voted unanimously to permanently designate May 3 as “Be Like Zach Day.” During an moving presentation to the Select Board, Zach’s father, Jonathan Wall, shared his son’s legacy of deep empathy and a commitment to caring for others. While the initial request was to designate a single day for 2026, the Select Board opted to make the observance an annual event every May 3.
The Town’s official proclamation encourages all residents to observe the day by “performing acts of kindness, generosity and compassion in honor of Zach Wall.” The State of Massachusetts citation is below:
Following Zach’s passing, his family established “Zach’s Rules for Life”—a set of guiding principles designed to turn grief and sadness into something positive that others can use to improve their relationships and lives. The following is from the Be Like Zach Day campaign page:
Zach’s Rules to Live By:
- If you get angry… let it go in about 20 minutes. Apologize if needed, then get back to life.
- When someone has cancer… run toward them. Check in. Stay with them.
- Sing if you want to sing. Belt it out. Own it.
- Stay busy. Find your passions, go deep, learn everything, then learn more.
- Be compassionate & empathetic. See the world through others’ eyes.
- Move with urgency. Life’s too short to wait.
- Grief gives you choices. You can be sad, but turn grief into action.
- Keep moving forward. No matter what, just keep going.
- Tell those you love, that you love them. Hug them. Often.
And remember the others that mattered just as much:
- Smile. Tell jokes. Laugh a lot – good, bad, or ridiculous.
- Love and surround yourself with animals.
- Give back as much as you can. Share. Volunteer.
- Say please.
This year, the nonprofit organization founded in his memory, Zach’s Bridge, which provides critical support to families facing childhood cancer, is asking the community to celebrate Zach’s 21st birthday in four ways:
- Give $21: Donate $21 to Zach’s Bridge in honor of his 21st birthday. Thanks to generous matching gift partners Steve and Pam Morin, all donations will be doubled, making your impact go twice as far.
- Pay it Forward: Do something kind for someone else. Big or small, it matters.
- Share a Story: Tell one person a memory or story about Zach to help keep his spirit alive.
- Share Zach’s Rules: Post, tag, or tell someone about how to live by his principles using the hashtag #BeLikeZach.
To make a donation or learn more about the campaign, residents can visit the Be Like Zach Day 2026 Givebutter page. For more information on Zach’s Bridge and its mission, search for Zach’s Bridge on Instagram or LinkedIn.