A Year 9 pupil at Monmouth Comprehensive School is organising a fundraiser on Saturday 11th July between 11am and 3pm for national charity "Meningitis Now" in memory of 18 year old Meg Draper from Pontypool who lost her life to Men B meningitis in October 2025.

14 year old Bethan Parry’s brother met Meg when they both started at Bournemouth University in September last year.

Meg was a talented netball player who played at county level, in national championships and for SE Wales Region and was asked to trial for Wales, before she suffered a serious knee injury which required surgery and resulted in a long break from playing. She had recently returned to playing netball at university, so that is why the fundraiser is a fun netball tournament open to all ages and genders, both netball players and those who don't usually get the opportunity to play.

The event is being held on the netball courts at Coleg Gwent, Usk (behind the gym) which is a lovely countryside location with plenty of parking and natural shade from trees around the courts.

All are welcome to come and play or support - individuals who would like to play and groups of friends who want to play together can be made up into teams (requested donation £3 per player), or ready-made teams of 7-8 players can be entered for a donation of £20 per team. There will also be a bake sale and raffle. If any local businesses would feel able to donate a prize for the raffle, these would be very gratefully received.

Bethan lives near Usk and plays for Usk Netball Club. This season she played for both the Seniors team and the under-14s juniors team.