Cancer won’t halt my dream wedding

Joanne Shaw: battling skin cancer for the second time

A BRIDE-TO-BE has vowed her dream wedding will go ahead despite the return of skin cancer.

Brave Joanne Smith (46) booked to marry her partner Thomas Wingate at Castello Scaligero — a beautiful castle overlooking Lake Garda, Italy — in September.

The Shaw mum-of-two beat a melanoma two and a half years ago, and routinely attends quarterly check-ups at The Christie.

But when she noticed a freckle had gone dark, she got herself checked immediately — and was told her cancer had returned.

Joanne, who works in Delph, had hoped for beautiful wedding photos with the lake in the background.

She said:“But now just to get out of the wedding car and into the castle I’ll have to use a parasol and high-factor suncream.”

“I won’t be able to take my summer clothes; I’ll have to wear special ones with factor 50 protection.

“I chose to get married in Italy — we had already booked it before I got the news so I’ll just have to be extremely cautious.”

Joanne has been so impressed by the hospital’s help, she wants to give something in return.

The daredevil will zoom down a 140ft free-fall abseil at Old Trafford stadium to raise money for the centre.

“The Christie has been absolutely brilliant in every way. They’ve got me back on track,” she says.

To sponsor Joanne, visit her web page: www.justgiving.com/christei (note spelling) or sign a sponsorship form at Saddleworth Craft Co-operative in Delph.