Terminally ill mum wants to marry her ‘rock’ before she dies

Brave Leanna Cox (29) and her partner William Boulton were devastated when she was diagnosed with cancer just months before they were due to be married in 2012.

Since then, she has fought a courageous battle against Hodgkins Lymphoma - but doctors have told her her illness is incurable.

And due to William having time off work to nurse her through her final days, the distraught couple can no longer afford their dream wedding.

Now they are hoping big-hearted locals will rally round to help them raise £5,000 to help pay for a church wedding.

“All I want now is to marry my partner who has been my rock through all of this,” she said. “In my eyes he is already my husband - but we cannot afford our dream wedding.

“Even my wedding dress no longer fits as I have lost so much weight. If I can raise £5,000 before I lose my battle with cancer we can finally marry and I will once again have something to live for.”

The couple’s world was turned upside down when she discovered lumps on her neck shortly after the birth of their daughter Kelsa Mae four years ago.

“I was the luckiest person in the world,” she said. “My partner proposed to me and we was looking forward to our future and I was so excited sorting out my wedding knowing that I was finally happy.

“I even bought my wedding dress ready for my big day.

“To our horror I was diagnosed with cancer three days after Christmas Day. Our world was ruined.”

The devastated couple had to cancel their wedding because they could no longer afford it.

William, head chef at the Foxglove pub, was forced to take time off work to look after her through each treatment cycle.

“He still had to work during some of my treatment to pay everyday bills,” said Leanna.

Leanna who lives with William and Kelsa Mae on Lord Street, Mansfield, said her treatment regime was horrible.

“I lost my hair, lost weight and was very poorly for a long time,” she said.

“William has tried his best to work and juggle home life as well as looking after our beautiful four-year old, we have struggled with the everyday cost of living.”

The family suffered a further tragedy when her 19-year-old bother Grant Cox was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident on Remembrance Sunday.

A fund has been set up to help Leanna and William reach their target and donation can be made at http://www.gofundme.com/ii9iaw.