![The image shows a young man playing guitar.](https://diabetes-resources-production.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/resources-s3/public/styles/original_optimized/public/2024-05/Ali%20600x400.jpg.webp?VersionId=PR6hyl1fKNdiRrDIKfwFG_h9bXNB13KR&itok=Y3jpEoCx)
Ali Fest 2024 is a music-based festival in memory of Alastair Thomas (Ali) who sadly died in 2018 from type 1 diabetes complications.
Ali was a fantastically talented musician who helped other local musicians at the start of their journey. Ali Fest is also about raising awareness of the symptoms and complications of type 1 diabetes and funds from the festival will go to Diabetes UK Cymru to help us support people living with diabetes and fight for a cure.
Rhydymwyn Football Club in Mold will be holding the event on Saturday 6th July, where people will get the chance to see some of the best local musicians North Wales has to offer.
The team has attracted a plethora of amazing local talent to join them at the special event. A full line up can be found on Facebook.
Tickets are on sale now via Skiddle. Adults can attend for £14, children aged 5-15 £6 and under 5’s are free.
This event will cater for all ages with children getting the chance to meet their favourite Marvel & Cosplay characters including a life-size Optimus Prime. There will also be a wide array of local craft stalls, face painting, a bouncy castle, food vendors and a fully licensed bar.
About Ali
Alastair Thomas, known as Ali, was a singer and musician from Flint, North East Wales, who had two young children and died of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) aged 35. He had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in his early twenties.
In October 2018, Ali felt poorly with what he assumed to be a stomach upset taking to his bed. After being sick for another day and complaining about back pain, he started to appear disorientated, collapsed and was taken to Chester hospital, where he died five days later.
Remembering Ali, his mother Dee said:
“Ali was very inspirational and had an amazing voice. He was a big character, who was very funny, very kind and made people feel happy. I was touched by all the people who cared so deeply about him in his memorial. I was by his side in his last days and struggled with my grief to accept the loss of my child.
“My husband Paul and I wanted to do something special this year in Ali’s memory and what better way to honour him than putting on a festival in his name – something he would have absolutely loved.
“We’d love to see local families come along and share the day with us to enjoy some incredible local music, entertain the children, eat some great food and raise vital funds for a really important cause.”