8:50am Monday 2nd August 2010
By Rebecca Cain
WITH festival season well and truly upon us Buckinghamshire residents need not go far afield to get involved as the second year of Jayfest gets bigger and better.
Last year the inaugural festival exceeded the organisers expectations and raised money in memory of their friend, Jason Fisher.
Jason died suddenly in 2008 aged 22 at Stoke Mandeville Hospital leaving his friends shocked and devastated.
Nine months later they decided they wanted to arrange an event to celebrate his life and came up with Jayfest- mixing some of the things Jason loved best- friends, live music, festivals and socialising.
Last year went with a bang and they had to turn people away as it only held a capacity for 500 people. This year they have got a bigger licence and are hoping 1,500 festival goers will attend.
Jake Drinkwater, who is part of the organising committee which includes Jason's friends, said: “After Jason passed away we thought to ourselves we needed to do soemthing to support the hospital.
“They spent so much time with him and made such a big effort we wanted to give something back while putting on something for everyone.”
The festival raised £14,000 last year for Stoke Mandeville Hospital Intensive Therapy Unit Jake, 25, from Thame added: “What we have tried to do is rather than just handing overy a cheque to the hopsital whcih will be put into a budget and spread out- we have got an indication of what they would like to buy.
“Last year £8,500 went to a piece of machinery.”
This year there will be 50 djs and bands across four different stages and will feature drum and bass, junglem dance , hip hop and lots more.
Jake added: “There will be a huge variety of music which will meet so many needs. There is something for everyone.”
The festival is on August 14 from 12pm-3am at Brill Road, Ludgershall, Near Bicester/ Aylesbury. Tickets cost £20 including camping. Go to www.jayfest.org.uk for more details.
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