Charity makes wedding wishes come true

Wakefield woman Catherine Evans and her friend Vikki Sagar from Barnsley founded A Magical Wedding Wish charity earlier this year.

It organises and funds weddings for couples affected by terminal or life-limiting illnesses throughout the North of England.

Mrs Evans, 39, said: “Vikki and I both run wedding-related businesses, and we were talking one day about how she had done some work for a couple where the man was ill, and had felt guilty taking the money - that’s how we came up with the idea.

“Organising a wedding can be so stressful and couples who are battling illness have enough to worry about. We aim to give them their dream day full of happy memories they can cherish, and a chance to escape from everything else that is going on around them for that special moment.”

The mums have been blown away by the response they have received to their cause since launching their website, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Mrs Evans of Rufford Street, Westgate, who runs Invitations Yorkshire, had always wanted to do something for charity in memory of her mother Diane Bean, who died of bowel cancer 10 years ago. She said: “People have been so generous with their donations and offers of help. We don’t expect things free of charge, but people seem only too happy to help in any way they can.”

The first wedding took place last weekend for a Mansfield couple affected by cancer.

The charity will be officially launched with a black tie ball at the Holiday Inn in Barnsley on October 10. Other fundraisers in the pipeline include a second-hand wedding wear sale, and the Cedar Court Hotel plans to run a wedding-themed event early next year. The pair are also running a raffle, which anyone can enter for the chance to win a wedding. Visit www.amagicalweddingwish.co.uk to buy a ticket.

Tickets for the black-tie ball cost £30, including a three course meal and entertainment from Robbie Williams tribute act, Tony Lewis.