Support Chef Lay's Recovery
https://www.gofundme.com/manage/Support-Chef-Lay/edit/story
On July 2, 2020, three days before her 25th birthday Lay Alston was shot and seriously injured by a gunman in a senseless act of violence. Needless to say, Lay spent her 25 birthday in the ICU. After a series of operations, it was determined that Lay would be paralyzed from the waist down. This news left Lay devastated. She no longer imagined her goals and aspirations possible.
Since the age of eight, Lay had a passion for cooking. She attended Food and Finance High School discovering her love for culinary arts. Gaining a scholarship from C-CAP, Lay was able to attend the Culinary Institute of New York at Monroe College where she earned her Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management. Upon graduation Lay immediately began working in some of the finest restaurants in NYC preparing lavish dishes for her guests.
In 2017, Lay appeared in an episode of Celebrity Undercover Boss with the legendary Marcus Samuelsson. Marcus recognized Lay's potential for the arts and invited her to travel abroad to help open his restaurants in London and Sweden. Lay was officially dubbed “Chef Lay.” Chef Lay later found her calling in teaching and in 2019 became an instructor of Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) in Los Angeles, California. Chef Lay was looking forward to returning to work on Monday, July 6th, but her return was interrupted.
Inspired by her love for the culinary arts, Chef Lay now envisions her future as one of indepence and perseverance.
Her aspirations of owning a food truck, a bed and breakfast and opening a school of her own has motivated her to fight for a full recovery.
To fully recover, Chef Lay will need to focus on improving her medical and mental health. You can help Lay by making a financial contribution. The funds raised will help cover her medical and personal expenses leaving her to focus solely on getting stronger.
No donation is too small and all contributions will help. One hundred percent of the funds will be given to Chef Lay. If you are unable to make a financial contribution, please continue to share her story and keep her in your prayers!
Thank you very much for your generosity Chef Lay and her family will be forever grateful.
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Here is Lay's profile at the ICE website with comments from friends and families:
https://www.ice.edu/blog/chef-lay-alston-los-angeles