Hello,

As many of you may know, our beautiful friend Mia Drake-Brockman passed away on 26th November 2020 after being diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer in April last year. She was, and still is an inspriation to us all. She went through months of rigorous cycles of chemotherapy, not once letting us feel sorry for her and dealt with everything that came her way with the kind of strength and bravery we had never come across before. Through all the hardships she experienced, her character and positivity didn’t falter.

As friends of Mia’s, we spent endless days in her company last year, however and wherever it was possible to do so, and on each occasion, no matter how she was feeling, she was her truest and most genuine self. There simply aren't enough words to do her justice; she was passionate about friendship and her loved ones; friendly and thoughtful at what she put out into the world and proud of who she was at every level. As are we.

We all think of Mia every day, and miss her greatly.

A place to go that reminds us of Mia is Heaton Park, where a countless number of happy memories have been made. Many of Mia’s friends went to St Monica’s High School, a time we all look back on with great fondness, so naturally it became the meet-up spot of countless summer afternoons and walks. Equally, it is now a place that we can mourn the loss of Mia in whatever means we like. Heaton Hill near the hall, is now, in our eyes, the Mia Hill.

A memorial bench dedicated to Mia in Heaton Park will be used by whoever likes and will serve as a forever reminder of her nature. She was and continues to be, loved by many, so having a dedicated place to go to, to think of her, would be so special. Should we raise more than we need to fund this bench, the surplus of donations will go to a charity that will help people suffering from the same cancer as Mia. Any donation, no matter the amount, would mean so much to us all.

Thankyou so much.