Terminal cancer diagnosis sparks donations to give couple their dream wedding

Despite being diagnosed with terminal cancer, a dream wedding is on the cards for Lauren Barker thanks to over £3,400 worth of donations since Saturday.
Lauren and Ben will get married before she undertakes chemotherapy next monthLauren and Ben will get married before she undertakes chemotherapy next month
Lauren and Ben will get married before she undertakes chemotherapy next month

Lauren, 27, from Biggleswade will marry Ben Green, 26, at the end of August after receiving devastating news her cervical cancer had returned and could no longer be cured.

She is determined to marry Ben before she has to have chemotherapy and faces losing her hair.

Lauren said: “I am overwhelmed with all the donations, I didn’t expect it and it is amazing. I really am lost for words.”

Lauren and Ben have had an incredibly tough two years as she was diagnosed with the cancer for the first time last July.

She had to have a termination and can no longer have children. She was told by doctors she needed treatment “there and then” for the cervical cancer.

Lauren would have six weeks of radiotheraphy, five days a week as well as chemotherapy before she was told the cancer had subsided significantly.

However, last Friday she was given the tragic news the cervical cancer had returned and spread to some of her lymph nodes, and was therefore offered palliative care.

“As soon as I found out people were telling me I’ve got to have my dream weddding. Thanks to the donations we have had so far my dreams of a grand wedding at a manor house in Cheshunt have become a reality,” Lauren added.

“I am really excited, but it is manic because of the situation at the same time. I am trying to be as happy as possible but obviously because of the circumstances that is difficult at times.”

Since making Lauren’s diagnosis public the family has been contacted by people across the country ranging from Ipswich to Dorset offering to help plan the wedding, provide cars and donate money.

Lauren’s stepfather Richard Sturgess said: “We’ve had an amazing response so far and I really hope Lauren gets the wedding she has always wanted. She deserves it.”

To donate to Lauren and Ben’s fund you can visit gofundme.com/ydng9w or donate through Paypal using the email address [email protected]

You can also visit their Facebook page by searching for Lauren and Bens Wedding Fund

Speaking to those who had offered their support on the page Lauren said: “I’m going to stay strong and not give up easy. I’ll fight for as long as I possibly can no matter what life throws at me.

I promise to reply to every single one of you who has donated, it really means everything!”