Relatives remember much-loved brother who died in a motorcycle crash on Pembury High Street through fundraising challenges
17:00, 02 December 2020
updated: 17:56, 02 December 2020
The grieving family of a man who died in a motorcycle crash has found a unique way to remember him.
Loved ones of Jay Hayes, a father-of-two from Halling, are completing 33 creative tasks before January 18, when Mr Hayes would have turned 34.
The challenges are all based around the number 33 and range from building a 33-Oreo tower, singing 33 songs in 3.30 minutes and 33 burpees for the same number of days.
His younger sister Emmy Farnham, 26, who came up with the idea, said: "It feels sometimes when someone passes away, everyone's sad initially but as time goes on people start going on with their lives, but for us, we can't do that.
"It's nice to still be talking about him and still have people sending us messages about him. He would be proud of us, as much as he would be laughing at the challenges, he would be proud."
The plumber, who grew up in the West Malling area was killed in Pembury High Street when the Honda VFR800 he was riding collided with a BMW in August.
His sons, aged six and three, were due to spend their first night at their dad's new house and he had bought bunk beds for them.
He had also started a new relationship and was excited for their families to get to know each other, Miss Farnham, from Eccles, said.
"Jay was so loved. Anyone who met him always remembered him, even right back to primary school. "He was a lovely daddy to his beautiful little boys, the best son in the world to my mum and the most caring brother me and my sister could have ever wished for," Miss Farnham said.
Already the family has raised more than £1,400 for charity Brake, which works to prevent deaths and injuries on the road and supports those bereaved through crashes.
Miss Farnham said: "I'm a mobile hairdresser and I didn't work the whole of the first lockdown and we have all had a lot of our time with our own thoughts, none of our mental health has great. I needed something to focus on."
She approached her older sister Tara, 36, about the idea and they started a list of challenges.
The family have been enjoying sharing videos of the tasks on social media and it has been a way of keeping busy and in touch during the second lockdown.
Mr Hayes two sons have even got involved, doing 33 star jumps. On January 18, 33 balloons will be released in memory of the much-loved father.
An inquest opened into Mr Hayes's death earlier this year and will resume in January.
You can keep view videos of the challenges on Instagram by following jay33before34 and donate by clicking here.
