Family remembers meningitis mum with anniversary concert
Ruth
THE family of a young Birches mother who died of meningitis are holding a fundraising concert to mark the 10th anniversary of her death.
Ruth Stafford-Goodfellow was just 23 when she contracted the fatal virus in May 2002; she left an 11-month-old son and a heartbroken husband and family.
Ruth, a keen singer, often accompanied her sister Yvonne in country songs, and next Friday, September 7, Ruth’s son Andrew will take his place beside his aunt as they perform a few ‘numbers’ at the country gospel concert.
The concert, which has been organised by Yvonne and Ruth’s mum, Mary Stafford, will raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation, a charity which has provided invaluable support to the family over the past 10 years.
It will be held in Milltown Parish Hall at 8pm and artists will include Aidan Taff, The Hegarty Twins, Boxcar Brian, Country Features, Joe Moore and others. The compere will be Cowboy Larry.
Said Yvonne, “It will be hard for the family but since Ruth’s death we have raised money for the Meningitis Research Foundation. With this year being the 10th anniversary we wanted to do something special.”
A social worker by profession, Ruth had decided to go on to work on the day she took ill despite having a severe headache. Said Yvonne, “She was at Omagh Courthouse at a case but began feeling worse.”
By that evening, she had lapsed into unconsciousness, from which she never emerged, and two days later, the family had to make the agonising decision to have her life support machine switched off.
Since her death, her sister Yvonne and mum Mary have raised money for the charity via street collections, vintage rallies, and a number of events at High Street Mall during the year when it was the shopping centre’s nominated charity. Said Yvonne, “We organised a tennis ball count, face painting and a sponsored static cycle, among other things.”
Four years ago, Mary and her husband Wesley, who have two other children, Jenni and David, held a concert in the parish hall, with the proceeds being split between the Meningitis Research Foundation and Guide Dogs for the Blind.
Tickets for the concert, costing £10, are available from Winnie’s, Woodhouse Street, and Wright’s Filling Station on the Dungannon Road or by phoning Mary on 07955255606.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portadown
Tuesday 21 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
