Ayrshire mum credits powerful social media campaign behind 'Jay Walk' with brave son's story retold

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An Ayrshire mum has told how her dying son’s journal inspired floods of donations to a cancer charity.Dawn Kennedy says her son Jay Kennedy’s final words for being the driving force behind a £91,206 fundraiser.Jay lost his 18-month long battle against brain cancer in October 2021.

He was just 20.We told how the incredible amount was raised through the ‘Jay Walk’ which saw 300 supporters trek the entire length of the River Ayr.The funds will go towards Ayrshire Cancer Support’s new centre in Ayr, with the charity netting the largest total yet towards the project.Throughout the campaign Dawn took it upon herself to create meaningful social media posts which were based around Jay’s journal which was written by Jay on his phone for his family to read.Dawn told Ayrshire Live: “It’s funny how things happen.

Creating the page and using social media has been healing for me. The power of social media has definitely shone through.“I’ve been able to share his Jay’s story and tell people about him.“I think people really grabbed on to his story.

What he wrote in his journal is just so powerful.“I wanted to share that to help people and to support young people’s mental health with his words.”Powerful extracts in Jay’s own words were shared on a dedicated Facebook page which gained more than 2,000 followers.Touching contributions from family and friends were added to the page, photos and personal memories were shared including a heart warming video of Jay taking on his own walk when he fought the illness.Looking back on the Jay Walk Dawn can’t quite believe how they managed to achieve such a feat, after the idea started off from District Nurse Gail Nisbet vowing to do a walk in honour of Jay.She said: “Gail only knew Jay for two and a