Basildon News
My special wish for mum to see me get married
10:00am Monday 6th February 2012
A DEVOTED daughter is planning to marry her fiance before her mum passes away from skin cancer.
Jamie-Lee Whellem, 21, of Long Riding, Basildon, will wed her partner of eight months, Harry Hopwood, 27, so her beloved mum Linda Stace, 45, will see her oldest daughter walk up the aisle.
The couple also plan to bring up Jamie-Lee’s younger brother Ben Hull, 12, and sister Lauren Hull, 11, on Linda’s behalf.
Despite their sadness, the family are holding a host of fundraising events to raise cash for St Luke’s Hospice, where Linda is staying.
Jamie-Lee said: “Harry and I were going to get married this year, but because of mum, he suggested we bring it forward.
“We might do the ceremony at St Luke’s or, if she is well enough, we will do it at a register office nearby.
“When we told her we were going to get married she was over the moon. It has all happened so fast, but we will make her final months really special.”
Two years ago, Linda noticed a mole on her leg had changed shape and colour, so she immediately went to the doctor.
She was told it was a melanoma, and had it removed. With regular check-ups it seemed everything was fine. It wasn’t until last year when Linda found a lump in her groin area she discovered the cancer had moved to her lymph nodes. Linda had a major operation in November to have the cancer removed, but a few weeks later doctors discovered a large tumour in her stomach.
Jamie-Lee added: “Mum’s condition has got so much worse in the past few weeks. It has all happened so fast and we are all trying to take it in.
“Mum was moved to St Luke’s just after Christmas, and she has been so much happier and comfortable. The nurses have been amazing.”
Linda’s children have all been keeping busy raising money for the hospice.
Jamie will take part in the St Luke’s ten-mile run on February 26 at Ford Dunton, in Basildon.
Lauren has organised a non-uniform day at Cherrytree Primary School and Ben is holding a raffle at Beauchamps School in Wickford.
If you would like to donate log on to www.justgiving.com/Jamie-lee -Whellem or e-mail her via jamiexgx @hotmail.co.uk