Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Mum shares daughter’s big day thanks to hospice
A dying mother was able to be a part of her daughter’s wedding day after caring staff arranged a special ceremony at the Pilgrims Hospice in Canterbury.
Terminally ill Diane Mewett was too sick to see Joanne Perkiss and fiance Allan Pippard swap their vows in a civil service last week but hospice workers made sure she did not miss out, organising a white wedding in the family lounge with 20 guests.
The room was dressed with flowers and the catering team prepared a buffet, with a blessing given by the hospice’s spiritual care leader, Martyn Yates.
Mrs Mewett said: “I’m still on a natural high because it was wonderful.
“Everyone made such an incredible effort to make the whole day special for all of us.”
New bride Mrs Pippard, a nurse from Faversham, had brought the wedding day forward so her mum could be part of the family celebration.
“It was an amazing day for her and me,” she said. “I can’t explain how thankful I am to Pilgrims for the support given to her and the whole family.”
The newlyweds asked family and friends to make a donation to the hospice as an alternative to wedding gifts.
Mr Yates said: “When Joanne approached us with her wedding thoughts, we wanted to do everything we could to make this possible for the family.
“We put the people who use our services and their families at the heart of everything we do here at Pilgrims.”