September sees the launch of a new music festival in Wiltshire to raise funds for research into type 1 diabetes in children.
T1 Fest’s T1 on the Farm at Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm on September 3 will donate all proceeds of the event to three charities: Diabetes UK, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and the paediatric diabetes team at Salisbury District Hospital.
All of the acts in the line-up are donating their performances free of charge and have some experience of diabetes, either themselves or through family or friends.
“A rollercoaster of emotions,” is how Steph Duffy, T1 Fest’s organiser and member of the band Stranded, describes the days and weeks following the January 2017 diagnosis of her daughter Ruby-Tuesday, four, with type 1 diabetes.
“With brilliant support from the paediatric diabetes team at Salisbury District Hospital we are getting used to Ruby’s new routine of daily blood testing and insulin injections,” says Steph. “She has amazed us all with her courage and bravery, and now frequently tests her own blood with little fuss, achieving great blood levels.”
As a type 1 diabetic herself since the age of 18, Steph has lived with the condition for over 27 years.
Drawing on her own passion for music, Steph decided to launch T1 Fest, a family themed mini music festival. Children’s entertainment includes a face painter, arts and crafts and much more.
Families are welcome to the event, which runs from 2pm to 10pm; doors open at noon. Acts confirmed include Stranded, rock'n'roll tribute band Green Haze, acoustic singer/songwriter Tobiah, rock and pop band Off the Cuff and Karl West.
Cholderton Rare Breeds will provide catering at the Ewe Tree Café, with a barbecue, hog roast, Pimm’s tent and a bar in the barn. Parking will be free/included in the ticket price.
Tickets are available from Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm, with an earlybird price of £10 per person if purchased before August 3. After August 3 prices are: £12.50 adult, £10 child, with under twos entering free.
T1 on the Farm is at Cholderton Rare Breeds Farm, Amesbury Road, Cholderton, Salisbury, SP4 0EW.
For tickets call 01980 629438.