Jay Slater’s mum reveals what she spent £72k GoFundMe cash on as she closes fundraiser 4 months after son’s tragic death
Four months after her son’s untimely death, Jay Slater’s mother thanked supporters after shutting down her 72,000 GoFundMe page.
In a heartfelt farewell note, 56-year-old Debbie Duncan also disclosed what she purchased with the funds.
The GoFundMe was started by Jay’s best friend Lucy Mae, who was with him in Tenerife when he disappeared.
Last Thursday, Debbie thanked “all you beautiful people who supported us throughout this heartbreaking time” before closing the fundraising campaign.
“Jay touched the hearts of the country and it truly showed us how much love you all shared with us,” she continued.
“Thanks to your help, we were able to remain in Tenerife till our lovely boy returned to the UK.
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“We were able to provide financial support to the Dutch Signi search team, who helped us during the days after Jay was located.
“Jay truly deserved the send off we were able to give him and we thank you all for that.”
Heartbroken Debbie claimed to have received “overwhelming” amounts of supportive texts.
“Our journey of trauma and grief will continue for ever and we will never recover,” she stated.
“As the world watched, we lost our lovely boy in very sad circumstances.
“We do not and will never understand how Jay’s story reached every corner of the globe.”
Additionally, the distraught mother attested that this will be the last post on the GoFundMe page.
She went on: “With your help, the loads were lessened, but our road is far from over.
“We also want to express our gratitude to the person who managed Jay’s crowdfunding page, with whom we have maintained a close relationship, particularly during our time in Tenerife. Your guidance and assistance will never be forgotten.
“With this last message, donations will be discontinued.
“Jay’s family and friends are trying to come to terms and process this tragic loss and thank you from the bottom of ourhearts.”
A total of 72,821 was raised by the GoFundMera.
In the past, Debbie has retaliated against hateful internet trolls who have attacked her and Jay.
She talked about the horrible mistreatment she witnessed while looking for her kid.
“Losing Jay was difficult enough, but having to read what some people are writing is torture,” she remarked at the time.
“I’m not good really and I would be lying if I said I was alright, the last few hours have just been awful.”
THE SEARCH FOR JAY SLATER
Jay Slater vanished while on vacation with friends in Tenerife in June, sparking a nationwide search for him.
He was last observed leaving the Papagayo nightclub with Ayub Qassim and another man in order to check into an Airbnb in the town of Masca, which is 23 miles away, for $40 per night.
The morning Jay was last seen, he had called Lucy Mae at 8:50 a.m.
He was described as “lost in the middle of nowhere” in the unsettling call.
Timeline of the tragic case
After weeks of suffering for the teen’s friends and family, with many questions yet unanswered, JAY’S body was eventually discovered. This is how it happened.
At the Papagayo nightclub in Playa de la Americas, Tenerife, on Sunday, June 16, Jay and his friends celebrate the final day of the NRG music festival.
June 17 from 3-6 am: Jay departs with Ayub Qassim and another man for a forty-dollar Airbnb stay in the village of Masca, which is twenty-three kilometers away.
7.30am: Jay posts a picture of herself standing in the Airbnb doorway on Snapchat.
8.50am: He phones his friend Lucy Mae Law and reports that he is stranded in the middle of nowhere, without water, with a wound on his leg, and that his phone is only 1% charged.
Pals explore the region on Tuesday, June 18, but Jay is nowhere to be found. Official search is launched by local police and mountain rescue crews. Debbie Duncan, Jay’s mother, takes a plane to Tenerife.
June 19–20: Despite using dogs, drones, and a helicopter, Spanish police are unable to locate any evidence. A probable sighting prompts the search to shift to Los Cristianos, but it is ruled out and
They go back to Rural de Teno, which is close to Masca.
June 21: Lancashire Police provide assistance, but it is turned down.
June 22: Jay receives an emotional plea from Mom Debbie, who says, “We just need you home.”
June 24: There have been reports of Jay being sighted in Santiago del Teide, close to where he vanished, and his family thinks a grainy CCTV footage may be of him.
June 25: As more friends depart and TV investigator Mark Williams-Thomas joins the search, Debbie makes a plea for her son to return home.
June 29: The police declare Mr. Qassim and another Airbnb employee not under investigation.
June 30: Officially ending the hunt, Spanish police claim the investigation is still ongoing. His family is still looking.
July 15: A search team using a helicopter finds a body near the location where the person’s phone last rang. Human remains are found near to his belongings. According to Spanish police, it suggests an unintentional fall.
August 5: Authorities in Tenerife confirm that the body discovered in the island’s mountainous region is that of Jay.
August 10: Hundreds of people attend Jay’s burial at Accrington Crematorium in Lancs to pay tribute to the “one of a kind” teenager.
The remains of Jay Slater would be discovered more than two weeks after a thorough search was halted.
The cause of his death was determined to be a “accidental fall” down a dangerous gully.
In August, the teenager was given a funeral.
Debbie stated in an exclusive interview with The Sun that Jay was simply a sweet guy with a huge personality.
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Everyone, including friends, family, and coworkers, adored Jay’s presence.
He was the main person in the group, affectionate, well-liked, and constantly smiling and having a good time.
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