T-SHIRTS SHOW LOVE FOR TEEN KILLED IN CRASH
HUNDREDS of people wore T-shirts adorned with the words “I Love Sausage” to celebrate the life of a teenage rugby player who died in a crash. Dylan Williams was killed in the crash on October 1, and yesterday friends, family and members of the community turned out to pay tribute to him.
The slogan, I Love Sausage, was printed on shirts at the event in the Rhymney Valley in reference to Dylan’s nickname Sausage, which he was given as a child because of a lisp which meant he could not pronounce sausage.
Family friend Joel Edwards said he had sold hundreds of the shirts, the funds from which will go to the family and funeral costs.
Joel said: “I have already sold 245 shirts and there’s still more people to turn up. We just can’t keep up.
“This has been a lovely way to pay tribute to Dylan. We are having a drink in his memory and all of his friends are coming together so strong.”
The event was held at Rhymney RFC in War Memorial Park, where Dylan, 19, from Aberbargoed, played rugby.
Joel added: “It’s awesome what’s happening here today. I find it difficult to describe. We are all happy and we just want to make the family happy. It’s the only way we can be at the moment.
“His family have turned up to appreciate what we have done for him and to say their thanks to everyone.”
Joel, who played rugby alongside Dylan from the age of 11, organised yesterday’s proceedings, and said they now want to make it a yearly event at the club to remember him.
He added: “The last few days have not been too bad. Every one of his friends have come round and accepted the fact he has gone. We are trying to stay strong.
“I don’t think we will forget him for the rest of our lives. He was such a lovely character. He would always be the one to make you laugh if you were sad. This event is so fitting today. None of us have a bad word to say about him.”
Dylan’s father, Paul Williams, said: “I think his friends have got a collective grief because I know he was really popular. At the moment I feel like they are channelling their grief and want to celebrate his life.
“He loved his friends and I think this would be something that he would have really enjoyed.”
The group originally planned to wear silly shirts to the club and have a quiet drink but once they came across the “I Love Sausage” T-shirt, the event snowballed.
Last Monday, Dylan’s friends organised a mass balloon release as a tribute to the teenager.
Dylan was riding an off-road motorcycle when he died in the crash in Elliotstown, New Tredegar.