- More than 2,000 people attend charity event at the Watersplash
- Event was raising money for 19-year-old Olly Newman, who is being cared for in a UK rehabilitation centre after his car was hit by an uninsured driver on the Five Mile Road last October
- See gallery of images from the event below
‘PEAS and Glove’ reigned in St Ouen’s Bay on Saturday as more than 2,000 Islanders descended on the Watersplash for an event to raise money for a teenager who has been left unable to walk or talk following a car accident last year.
From midday onwards large crowds gathered to soak-up the sights and sounds, which included stunt bike riding, a surfing competition, spray painting, a fire show and live music from local bands, DJs and beat boxers.
It was held to raise money for 19-year-old Olly Newman – a surfer and musician who is being cared for in a UK rehabilitation centre after his car was hit by an uninsured driver on the Five Mile Road last October.
The event was organised by a group of Olly’s friends, who wanted to raise money for the Peas and Glove Trust – a name chosen because it is one of the talented musician and surfer’s favourite expressions – to help finance his future needs.
Throughout the day several of his friends, who were all wearing colourful tie-dye T-shirts featuring the Peas and Glove logo, were filming the different activities to create a movie for Olly to watch.
Before the start of the day more than £12,000 had been raised from T-shirt and cake sales and although the final fundraising total is not yet known, organisers expect to have made more than £20,000.
Brontey Luxo-Piazza, who organised the event with Luke Hounslea and Kyle Simon, said she was ‘astonished’ by the community’s response.
‘I can’t quite believe it – it’s really been quite overwhelming,’ Miss Luxo-Piazza said on Saturday evening. ‘I think this is the busiest that I have ever seen the ‘Splash – people have been coming down in their masses all day and there’s been such an amazing spirit and atmosphere.
‘So many different people have given up so much of their time to do this and those who came today have been so generous with their donations that we’ve struggled to keep pace with it all.’
She added: ‘We tried to make it an event that centred on all of Olly’s interests – music, beat-boxing, surfing, skating – and I think if he could be here, he’d have thought it was amazing.’
Olly’s dad and stepmum, Paul and Louisa Newman, who attended throughout the day, said they were ‘completely humbled’ by what their son’s friends had put on.
‘It’s absolutely heartwarming what they have done and all the people who have turned up,’ Mr Newman said.
”Some of his teachers from De La Salle have come down, as well as a few of the nurses who took care of him in hospital when he was in Jersey.
‘It has been a very humbling day.’
