Home   Gravesend   News   Article

Today is Molly Fest hosted by The Molly McLaren Foundation

Today is the second annual festival which remembers a young woman who was killed nearly two years ago.

Friends and family of Molly McLaren are coming together today celebrate what would have been her 25th birthday.

Last year, to mark her birthday, the group arranged a festival at the Leather Bottle in Cobham where Molly use to work.

Friends and family at last year's MollyFest Picture: Steve Crispe. (2783446)
Friends and family at last year's MollyFest Picture: Steve Crispe. (2783446)

Molly McLaren was murdered in June 2017 at Chatham Dockside.

The Molly McLaren Foundation was set up in her memory to help people with eating disorders.

The group organises the annual MollyFest as well as other fundraising activities throughout the year.

Event organiser Jennifer Hamer and Molly McLaren Foundation trustee Amy Lee at a sporty fundraising event in Medway Park, Gillingham
Event organiser Jennifer Hamer and Molly McLaren Foundation trustee Amy Lee at a sporty fundraising event in Medway Park, Gillingham

Last year MollyFest raised £5,000 for the charity.

Speaking earlier this month Molly's dad, Doug McLaren, said: "The charity is secondary to this event. It's all about Molly's friends and family coming together for an annual event that reinforces the person that she was.

"She was loved by so many and they will not forget her.

"It gives Joanne and I so much pleasure to see all the people from the village and indeed all over Kent and beyond who knew and loved Molly and who are prepared to come and stand shoulder to shoulder with us once again and not let Molly fade from our memories."

The Molly McLaren Foundation was set up in memory of Molly and supports people with eating disorders
The Molly McLaren Foundation was set up in memory of Molly and supports people with eating disorders

This year's event will be held on Saturday, May 25 from 2pm until 10pm with doors open at 1.30pm.

Rumblefish, Skatonics and Calli Malpas are among the performers and there will also be a hog roast, raffle and range of stalls.

Foundation trustee and friend of Molly and her family, Amy Lee, said: "We created Mollyfest to reinforce who she was as a person and to take a lot of things she enjoyed and put them together.

Sunflowers, often used to commemorate Molly, at last years MollyFest. Picture: Steve Crispe (2229937)
Sunflowers, often used to commemorate Molly, at last years MollyFest. Picture: Steve Crispe (2229937)

"Last year, we sold out more than 400 tickets in just one week.

"We use the money raised last year to help a charity that does counselling, therapy and early intervention schemes around the local community. "

"Tickets are being sold on the door so more people can enjoy the day. There will be little surprises dotted around that weren't there last year too."

The charity the foundation support is called Rewrite Your Story who help people with eating disorders. The foundation has recently funded the first person through their counselling process.
They are also looking to work with charities that work with universities and schools to train them to spot the first signs of eating disorders.

Tickets for Mollyfest are £10 and under 5s go free.

For more information search The Molly McLaren Foundation on Facebook.

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More