A South Shields couple hit by tragedy is making a last-ditch bid to save their dream wedding from disaster.
In their 37 years together, parents-of-three Judith Elliott and Paul Laing never got round to saying 'I do'.
But when Judith was dealt the devastating blow of a terminal cancer diagnosis, they decided it was time to celebrate their love in style and make precious memories while they still can.
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Their son, Craig, 28, set about organising the perfect day for his beloved mum and dad when Judith was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer with liver metastases, after noticing a pain in her back in November last year.
The diagnosis came as a huge shock to the family, as the 55-year-old had recently received the all-clear from specialists after five years of treatment for non-hodgkin lymphoma. They had thought she was on the mend - but now doctors say the lung cancer is likely to claim her life.
With the help of charity Gift Of A Wedding, Craig was able to arrange a romantic day at the Sea Hotel in South Shields, with donations from local suppliers helping to put everything together for their big day on March 3.
But a last-minute misunderstanding over catering costs has left them scrambling to fund a vital aspect of the celebration: the food. The venue cut the price of the food to help out, but the couple, who are unable to work due to the illness and Paul's caring responsibilities, still face a rush to come up with over £1,000 for the day's food - or risk having to cancel the event. They've launched a GoFundMe page, with Craig and other generous family and friends giving most of the needed total, but they're still facing a small shortfall.
Craig said: "We've been through a lot recently so I just thought, 'let's put everything right and have something nice to look forward to for a change'.
"It's all about my mum and dad: there's nobody else for them but each other, they were made for each other. Having three kids, they always put us first, but now I want to put them first. They were always giving to someone else so now I want them to take something back.
"We just want to have a sandwich and a scone or something after the ceremony and they'll do the evening buffet, the venue have reduced the price, which helps, but we just don't want to have to cancel. We couldn't deal with the hurt that would cause."
Judith said she had been over the moon when Craig revealed he'd found a way for her and Paul to wed and now "cannot wait" for the big day.
She said: "I couldn't believe it, to be honest. He has a heart of gold, and Gift Of A Wedding has been amazing.
"I've got my dress fitting coming up, and my hen, I can't wait.
"I'm on my fourth round of chemo now, and if you looked at me you'd never know I was bad. I'm still breathing, and I'm just taking things one day at a time - you've just got to think positive."
She said she didn't like asking for help, but was desperate not to miss this chance to finally become the wife of the man she's spent her life with.
Husband-to-be Paul, 56, said he couldn't wait to see the love of his life walking down the aisle - and that the fear of having to call off the big day was "absolutely devastating".
He said: "Getting married would mean the world to us. It's something that always got shoved on the back burner.
"We've always been there for each other, we just get on.
"It's going to be a strange feeling seeing her going down the aisle, it will be so emotional.
"I'm so proud of her, she's taken all this on the chin and she's just been amazing, absolutely amazing."
Craig is collecting contributions to his parents' wedding breakfast at https://www.gofundme.com/f/judith-and-pauls-wedding-catering
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