RELATIONSHIPS & FAMILY
WHEN Sarah Murray was diagnosed with breast cancer, she feared the man she had just started dating would run a mile.
Instead, they ended up walking down the aisle.
Sarah, 42, met Piers Wilkinson, 44, only weeks before she was told she had cancer.
Despite having only been on two dates, Piers kept in daily contact with Sarah, including cheering her up as she had surgery to have both her breasts removed.
He proposed on Christmas Day last year – just nine months after the couple first met.
They got married last month – and instead of a traditional honeymoon, they are now taking part in a six-day climbing and cycling challenge to raise money for breast cancer research.
Sarah said: “When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was sure I was about to face the worst year of my life – but, weirdly, it turned out to be the best.
“Right at the beginning, I knew I didn’t want to cry on Piers’ shoulder, as I didn’t know him well enough.
“We had only been on a couple of dates.
“But not having those deep conversations was great, because he was so brilliant at making me laugh.
“Finding out you have breast cancer might not be the ideal way to start a relationship, but it helps you focus on what is important in life too.”
Sarah was diagnosed in April last year after finding a small lump in her breast.
It was not long after she had met Piers on a blind date – taking him to see Scotland play England in the Six Nations.
She said: “I was sitting at a family lunch, being told it was about time I sorted my life out and found myself a man, when Piers’ name came up. It turned out his sister is married to my cousin.
“I did a bit of Facebook stalking of him and plucked up the courage to send him a message along the lines of ‘You don’t know me, but I’m Matthew’s cousin and would you like to go on a date with me to the rugby?’
“We ended up chatting on WhatsApp every day and really got on, so when we finally met at the rugby it wasn’t awkward at all.
“We had a great day, went out for dinner and kept in touch from then on.
“Piers was living in Edinburgh at the time, and about to head off to work abroad for three m I was living between Lon Shropshire. But it felt eas
Sarah, who helps run a chain, added: “I had actu the lump in my breast th months before but stupi that thing where you try persuade yourself it can anything to worry abou
“Eventually I got one o girlfriends to take a look me what I already knew had to get it properly ch
When tests revealed t was cancerous, Sarah dr her home in Shropshire the news in person to h in Dollar, Clackmannan
On the way, she stopp see Piers, who she had a about her diagnosis.
She said: “He was grea journey up the road I’d d of crying and over-think cheered me up.
“My mum was sure I w to tell her important new thought I was going to s was ‘the one’.
“Sadly, it was very diff I had for her but, actuall end she was right.”
When further tests re suspicious cells in both Sarah was advised to ha mastectomy.
Piers had gone abroad