£15k pledge in the memory of brave Jay, 20
An Ayr family has pledged to raise £15,000 to support a new cancer centre in honour of their late son and brother.
Jay Kennedy, 20, lost his life to brain cancer in October after an 18 month battle.
Now his loved ones will undertake a charity walk to support Ayrshire’s proposed new support base for children, young people and adults.
They want to help fund a Complimentary Therapy Room to create a legacy for Jay at the Ayrshire Cancer Support base.
Dawn Kennedy, Blair Kennedy, and Gail Nisbet will head out on a ‘JayWalk’ in his memory later this year.
On Sunday, June 12, friends, family, and individuals who were moved by Jay will come together and join in walking the River Ayr Way, a total of 44 miles.
This will be done in sections of varying distance to enable mixed abilities to take part or for some brave souls including his brother Blair who hope to tackle it in full.
Jay’s mum, Dawn, said: “As a massage therapist for most of my working life,
this room will be close to my heart, and the fact the centre is for young people, children and adults it has a profound meaning to our family.
“The power that is care, compassion, connection, holding those in their darkest hours is what was the source of the idea of this walk, from a district nurse doing her job but in doing so forged such a special connection to our family.
“That connection now carries all the ‘Hope’ and the love for a space that will hold Jay’s spirit and energy at the heart and many more may feel they have been ‘Jay’d’ too.”
A statement from Jay’s family added: “Jay was all about hope even when to others there seemed none.
“Jay is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and in us he will never die. Jay lives with us just in a different form.
“Jay wrote a journal the last few weeks of his life, he wanted his family and friends to know if he had the choice of his life to 20 or someone else’s to 80 he’d choose his every time, he wouldn’t change a thing, apart from perhaps better eyesight! (He had a witty sense of humour!)
“He appreciated even though his life may appear short that did not detract from its enjoyment, purpose and meaning. Jay has a quote on his bedroom wall taken from a famous film: ‘Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things and no good thing ever dies’.”
To donate, visit Blair Kennedy is fundraising for Ayrshire Cancer Support (justgiving.com)