Winning this wedding means the world to us
HAIRDRESSER BATTLING CANCER WINS £20K M.E.N. COMPETITION
A MOTHER battling stage-four cancer and her fiancé have won their dream wedding, courtesy of the M.E.N.
Rachel Gellatly, 30, and Rick Foster, 35, from Altrincham, won this year’s M.E.N. Win a Wedding Competition – bagging a luxury £20,000 package to make their special day even better.
Rachel and Rick, who have been together for four years, collected a staggering 1,000 tokens from the M.E.N. between June 2 and June 30.
Friends, family and even strangers came together to help the couple secure the win after Rachel’s sister entered the couple following what they described as a ‘very tough’ few years.
In 2013, Rachel was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a type of skin cancer. It was the beginning of an emotional and turbulent five-year journey to recovery.
Following a series of operations, Rachel was given the all-clear – but 18 months later, the cancer returned.
After more major surgery, she went into remission for a second time.
But six months later, Rachel heard the words every cancer patient dreads hearing – that it had returned.
She was told that the cancer had spread across her entire body, from her liver to her pancreas, knee, breast, shoulder and stomach.
Rachel, who has been left with major scars, will have to take medication for the rest of her life. Rick proposed on a family holiday to Wales last year.
“Winning this wedding would have been a dream come true to most couples, but to us it means the world,” Rachel said.
“It was actually my sister who entered us into the competition because she thought we deserved a good wedding.
“To win we had to collect as many tokens as we could so we got everyone involved to help us.
“I’m a hairdresser, so I got all my clients involved.”
Rachel and Rick also set up a crowdfunding page, donating 20 per cent to the Christie Cancer Hospital in Withington and using the rest to stock up on more tokens. “This is a happy ever after for us, our friends and family after a very tough few years,” Rachel added.
“Now we have a lot of planning to do.”
The couple’s big day will take place at The Bowdon Rooms in Altrincham on November 3.
Rachel and Rick will receive a full wedding package for up to 100 guests, including a threecourse wedding breakfast, an evening buffet and a wedding planner.
The package also includes a bridal gown and accessories from Jeravida Bridal; two bespoke wedding bands from Diamond Heaven; a full floristry package from Barkers The Florist; three-piece suits for the groom and four groomsmen from Marc Darcy; a set of illuminated letters by The Word Is Love; a bespoke wedding cake from Slattery; and a photography package, including an engagement shoot, before the wedding from Amanda Morgan Photographer.