Dubai: A target of Dh250,000 was surpassed and the final figure will continue to grow, according to organisers of the emotional and well-attended Jon Beeton fundraiser event held on Friday at the Sevens Stadium.
Beeton, 27, the UAE and Dubai Exiles centre who fell from the back of a boat at a friend's party on June 17, has recorded zero brain activity since the accident and doctors have told his family he will never regain consciousness.
This event was organised to ensure medical and logistical costs for Jon and his family were covered.
The brunch event that included an auction, raffle and speeches was followed by a match between the UAE national team and a ‘Studente' (Jon's nickname) select Dubai Exiles side.
The UAE won 43-21, thanks to tries from Tim Fletcher, Trent Eastgate, Mike Hartley, Scott Kerr, Steve Little, two from Steve Smith, who also landed a conversion, the other three two-pointers from Murray Strang.
Exiles scorers were James Blackmore, two from Mo Middleton and three conversions from Philip Stevens.
Humbling
Tammy Beeton, 23, Jon's wife of six months said of the day's success: "I can think of no better word than humbling. I know so many people love him, we've seen that over the last few weeks. It's been surreal, but amazing to see the support and turnout, then to hear the words people have spoken about Jon is absolutely amazing. It's obviously been very emotional for both families and there are no words to describe it."
Derrick Murray, Beeton's best man at his wedding said: "This is a true testimony to the kind of person Jon was. It's not just the amount of people here but what they have given. They've donated great things for a great, great friend. Jon was my best friend, he will always be my best friend and I can't tell you how much he means to me, his family and to Tammy."
He added: "Today has been unbelievable, you wouldn't think that this could happen, you wouldn't dream of it, all these people have come out for Jon and there's nothing more we could have asked for. The match was awesome, it was a brilliant game of sport, the way Jon would have wanted it — hard and pleasant rugby."
Mike Cox Hill, Beeton's captain for both Exiles and the UAE said: "The brunch made Dh37,000, the auction Dh83,000, raffle Dh150,000, programmes and T-shirts Dh50,000, the guys paid Dh50,000 to play, plus donations so I think we've cracked Dh300,000."
"It says something about the guy. They knew Jon and if they hadn't met him they know that by reading about him he must have been a pretty special guy. To have the entire rugby fraternity come out and support the event not knowing what the outcome will be speaks volumes of the type of person Jon was."
Mike Wolfe, chairman of Dubai Exiles said: "It's been an outstanding success, we filled 25 tables of ten for brunch and comfortably fitted another 50 more. A few turned up, but couldn't sit and eat but still paid the admittance fee. It's been incredibly humbling."
