Pal of lacking Jay Slater raises £30,000 in three days as search continues
The fundraising page set up to aid the family of missing British teen Jay Slater has smashed its target in just three days.
Lucy Law had hoped to gather £30,000 to assist Jay’s family as they search for the 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer in Tenerife. Now, the GoFundMe stands at over £30,500, mere days after its inception.
However, several fraudulent pages were also established by con artists, prompting GoFundMe to issue a statement declaring all campaigns “under review”. One was identified as the legitimate page and it’s this one that continues to rake in donations to support the family from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.
READ MORE: Missing Jay Slater seen in new TikTok video dancing topless in Tenerife nightclub
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Jay’s anxious mum, Debbie Duncan, 55, issued a statement today expressing gratitude for the public’s generosity on the page. She penned: “Hi everyone, this is Debbie, Jay’s mother. Thank you all for your generosity and kindness during this difficult time. We are extremely worried and are doing everything we can to find Jay. Please continue to share our fundraiser far and wide. Your support means the world to us, and we are grateful for any help you can provide.”
Debbie reassured donors that the funds wouldn’t be used for anything other than expenses to stay in Tenerife. At least 15 of Jay’s family and friends have jetted out to the holiday island as rescue efforts reach the seventh day, reports the Mirror.
Jay’s mum, Debbie, is joined by his dad, Warren Slater, and brother, Zak. In a statement, Debbie said: “I wanted to confirm that this is the only GoFundMe fundraiser approved by our family.”
“We have not yet withdrawn any funds and are currently covering the expenses, such as the trip to Tenerife and accommodation, ourselves. The funds will remain on hold with GoFundMe until we post a further update on this page.”
Lucy was the last person to speak to Jay before he disappeared in northern Tenerife on Monday. On Sunday night, he attended a rave with pals but left with two strangers he’d just met.
After staying at their accommodation near Masca village, Jay missed the bus home on Monday morning, leaving him with a 10-hour walk.
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