Mamma Mia - fun day for Hayley

If you ever felt like joining in and getting involved, now's your chance '“ a fun day is being planned for Saturday July 17 at Italian Way on the Marina.

Owner Luca Venditto came up with the idea while talking to Hayley's mum Kerry and they thought of this as a great way to give everyone the opportunity to take part.

The day will be all about community fun and there's room for everyone, whatever their age. Hayley will be there working on the till and nibbling on her favourite Italian wafers, younger sister Ruby and brother Louis will be doing their bit with the washing-up, and Kerry and Mark will be helping out in the restaurant.

Luca will be there with his nine year old daughter Jodie, as will all the Italian Way staff, including chef Jason Menzies who might well be cooking Hayley's favourite pasta Carbonara '“ the two of them will get together soon to decide on the menu for the day.

Apart from food, drink and ice-cream, the day will also be about activities such as face-painting, magic tricks, balloon shapes, music, and kid's entertainment.

The day will start at 10am and promises to be a hugely enjoyable event for all.

Luca said the idea had come about after seeing the report on Hayley in last week's Observer.

He commented: "We came up with this thinking rather than just hand a cheque over, we can do this fun day here for everyone to get involved in. We have such a community-based restaurant here and we need to look after our community.

"I just think it will be so good, and it will get spread awareness for Hayley as well as getting funds together.

"Hayley wants to work on the till...I know she won't be giving any change back."

He added: "My team here is quite gregarious, and they will have family here, and all the suppliers we have been speaking to are very supportive as well.

"I think there will be people queuing to get in.

"Once Hayley has counted all the money from the till I hope we can put that on the side of the community bus, and say thank you to Bexhill, and say how much we have raised. It will be fantastic '“ the staff are all really excited."

Hayley, now 12, appeared in the latest film in the Extraordinary People, charting her progress with a new drug regime to treat the condition which causes rapid premature ageing '“ it was called Hayley, The 96 Year Old Schoolgirl.

The documentary showed a nervous Hayley tackling her first day at Bexhill High, dubious about boisterous physical shenanigans in the playground as well as the daunting new environment of secondary school.

Now Hayley describes her schoolday as "okay" but said she was looking forward to the Italian Way event which she thinks will be "really fun".

It's all in aid of raising funds for the Progeria children get-together which Hayley will host this summer, and she commented: "It's really important that we get together."