Emmerdale actor John Middleton (who plays the vicar, Ashley Thomas) will give a festive reading at a carol concert at Leeds Minster to raise funds for Leeds-based national charity Epilepsy Action.
The concert, which takes place on Monday 15 December, 6.30pm, will include carol singing led by the choir, readings from guest speakers led by John Middleton and prominent author Will Fiennes will announce the winning entry of the Epilepsy Action festive poetry competition.
Epilepsy Action is inviting guests to remember loved ones at the carol concert with a personalised Shining Star for a suggested donation of £10. The Shining Star will be engraved with a loved one’s name and special message and then displayed on the Christmas tree at the concert. The star will then be presented in a keepsake box for people to take home.
The Revd Canon Charles Dobbin at Leeds Minster, said: "We're delighted to be hosting Epilepsy Action's Christmas carol concert this year. We look forward to a successful celebration that will both help raise funds and help raise awareness about epilepsy and its impact on the lives of people in Yorkshire. Christmas is a celebration of light shining in darkness. This makes it a fitting time to celebrate the light of understanding and knowledge about epilepsy too."
The concert starts at 7pm and will run for approximately one hour and 15 minutes. Tickets costs £8 for adults, £4 for children under 16 (and children under 5 go free). Tickets can be booked online at epilepsy.org.uk/leedscarols or by calling 0113 210 8824. To find out more about Shining Stars, visit epilepsy.org.uk/star
Epilepsy affects around one in every 100 people and 87 people are diagnosed with the condition every day in the UK. Each year, Epilepsy Action directly helps over 1.2 million people through a range of services, including its Epilepsy Helpline, freephone 0808 800 5050, specialist nurse scheme and award-winning website, epilepsy.org.uk