Families affected by meningitis will come together for a heartfelt Christmas concert at Gloucester Cathedral on Wednesday, November 26. Hosted by Stroud-based charity Meningitis Now, the event offers a poignant moment of remembrance and reflection ahead of the holiday season.
Central to the evening is the charity’s symbolic ‘Tree of Remembrance,’ adorned with white ribbons. Each ribbon carries a personal handwritten message to honor and remember loved ones taken by meningitis, symbolizing love, memory, and unity among those impacted by the disease.
The concert will feature performances from The Chalford Band, The I-Sing Choir, and the Two Can Theatre Choir, with seasonal carols bringing warmth and comfort to attendees. Alex and Clare, whose daughter Mia tragically passed away from MenB meningitis in 2023, will share their moving story during the service.
“This will be our third Christmas without our vibrant, funny, and beautiful Mia,” they reflected. “She died in our arms on her 20th birthday, just days after falling ill with a strain of meningitis we’d never even heard of, MenB.”
In Mia’s memory, the couple will tie a ribbon on the Tree of Remembrance and invite others to do the same—to honor a loved one or show support for everyone affected by meningitis.
Dedications for the tree can be submitted until Monday, November 25. For those unable to attend in person, Meningitis Now will also present a virtual Ribbon Tree accessible online at any time.
This year’s tree is sponsored by Fay’s Flowers, a business run by Mia’s grandparents. They are also offering ‘Mia’s bouquet,’ with 50% of proceeds donated to Meningitis Now.
Special thanks go to engineering firm Renishaw for their generous sponsorship, which has helped make the concert possible.
Tickets for the Christmas concert are available through the charity’s website.