With the indispensable efforts of Aussie Jaywalkers, our project manager Briar Francis, and especially Dear Jay (represented by Korean Jaywalkers), we began promoting this project as a way to raise awareness of the terrible floods in Queensland. We also wished to help those affected in the aftermath of the disaster.

But reading the heart-breaking story of Jordan Rice that Jay shared via Twitter, we felt a further need to help his family. Jordan (13), drowned with his mother Donna moments after telling rescuers to bring his brother Blake (10) to safety first.

Briar contacted seven newspapers in order to get in touch with Jordan’s father (John Tyson), after which The Australian fortunately was able to help her. When Briar spoke via phone with Mr. Tyson, she expressed the desire among Jaywalkers to contribute what they can in Jay’s honor, with little mention of Jay beyond describing him as a singer. During the conversation, Mr. Tyson remarked, “Jay must be a really genuine, compassionate person to have fans with such big hearts.”

Among our conversations, we discussed ways we could immediately help. Despite his gratefulness, he believed that his family shouldn’t receive special treatment when many others are also struggling to pay for funeral services to bury their loved ones. However, he finally agreed to receive assistance for his children’s schooling needs, for little Blake and his other 17 year old son. In this way, we can help Blake as well as his brother “[grow] up to be something incredible,” just as Jay himself hoped.

In one of our emails, Briar sent Mr. Tyson the links to Jay’s Twitter and our projects page that he could read when he had the opportunity to learn more about Jay and his fans. In response, Briar received this touching e-mail from him that we thought was meant to be shared with all the Jaywalkers out there who work to help others on a constant basis:

To date, this collaboration project with Aussie Jaywalkers and Dear Jay has been our biggest success. The team at JayPark.net believes that even if our individual contribution might be small, when we work together, we Jaywalkers can do wonderful things.
Jaywalkers, you are amazing. Thank you once again. Let’s keep working together!

TOTAL RAISED MONEY: $ 2650 (AUD)
QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT: $ 1650
JORDAN RICE’S FAMILY: $ 1000