Kim Caldwell to launch Langley Festival

Residents and workers across Langley have come together to organise the Langley Festival and this year it has three aims; to showcase the talents of Langley people, to have lots of fun and to raise money for Cancer Research UK. Local girl Kim Caldwell who is suffering from a rare bone and muscle cancer and had to have part of her leg amputated, will open this year’s festival on 7 July. An inspiration to young and old, 13-year-old Kim was delighted to accept the invitation, she said: “Opening the festival will be great. We all want this year’s event to be a big success. So we want everyone on Langley to turn out to have fun and raise money for charity.”

Proud mum Lorraine Caldwell said: “Kim is an inspiration for lots of people, she just gets on with it and has coped terrifically.”

Recent health statistics indicate that Langley, like other areas in the North West are experiencing increased levels of cancer but organisers hope that raising money for the UK’s leading cancer research charity will increase people’s awareness of the disease and also support the dedicated work of cancer healthcare professionals and groups.

Middleton Cancer Research UK Area Volunteer Manager, Gary Kernahan said: "We are thrilled to be involved with this fantastic community event. The money raised by the festival will help to fund our 3500 scientists, doctors and nurses based throughout the UK, including research at the Paterson Institute for Cancer Research in Manchester where scientists are leading ground-breaking studies into all aspects on cancer biology.”
         
The Festival Finale will take place on Saturday 7 July, 11.00 - 4.00pm at Furrow Sports Centre and Community School with a 'Family Fun Day'. The day will feature live performances from local groups including The McGowanettes, Langley Theatre Workshop, Line Dancing, Middleton Gymnastics Club and Cloud Nine Theatre Workshop. There will be lots of free activities for all the family including: circus skills, climbing walls, jungle run, assault course, face painting, henna and nail art , arts and crafts, prize bingo and traditional games.

Katie Fletcher, Rochdale Council’s Community Development Worker said: “Organising this year’s festival wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment from so many people. The Festival Committee are keen to make this an annual event on Langley.”