Hundreds attend charity carol concert at Christ Church

Around 500 guests gathered at Christ Church for an uplifting evening of festive music on Thursday 19 December, with entry and raffle ticket sales raising approximately £8,500 for Maggie’s Cheltenham centre.

The festive evening, which we held jointly with Maggie’s, featured performances from choir Severn’s Eight, the Cotswold Male Voice Choir and Maggie’s Choir, a seasonal medley from the Flowers Brass Band and a selection of readings.

At the historic church on Malvern Road, Cheltenham, Dave Clarke shared his experience of visiting Maggie’s centre, and oncology speciality doctor Duncan Stow gave a moving speech on how the charity helps those in times of need. Lawyers at Willans, Jenny Hawrot, Sian Ford and Nigel Whittaker shared festive poems and readings and the firm’s employment law partner, Matthew Clayton, sang as part of Severn’s Eight.

The concert was attended by clients, friends and supporters of both organisations, with guests enjoying mulled cider and mince pies after the service.

Wayne Russell, Centre Fundraising Organiser at Maggie’s Cheltenham, commented “Maggie’s is entirely funded by donations and kind gifts. The support we’ve had from Willans, will help us keep open doors to people with cancer and their families and friends. As a partnership, we’ve made a real difference.”

Through a network of 25 centres based in the grounds of cancer hospitals in the UK and overseas, Maggie’s provides practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer, their families and friends.

Felicity McClintock, head of marketing and business development at Willans, commented: “Not only was this an incredibly enjoyable evening of entertainment, we’re all delighted with the amount raised for Maggie’s to help them to carry out their vital work. Among those we’d like to thank for their support are the performers, organist, Christ Church for hosting us, the volunteers who worked so hard, Barclays, the businesses who kindly donated raffle prizes and mince pies, and of course the guests who attended on the night.”