My day will be so very special

LOVING FAMILY: Allyson, Katie and Mark

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

A mother twice diagnosed with cancer is facing the battle head-on — by giving her family a day to remember in renewing her wedding vows.

Allyson Richardson-Smethurst, of Oldham, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in March, 2010. She faced gruelling chemotherapy and also suffered blood poisoning.

After recovering, in February of this year came a second blow: doctors discovered the disease had returned and spread to her lungs.

The family has been hit a third time: the disease is triggered by a hereditary gene. Allyson’s grandmother died aged 40 from the disease; her mother has the gene and some symptoms and her 12-year-old daughter, Katie, will need screening from the age of 20 to ensure she doesn’t suffer the same problems.

The family is keeping its spirits up by creating plenty of memories in the time they have together — starting with a romantic renewal of wedding vows for Allyson (36) and husband Mark (40).

Allyson and Mark are planning their celebration for July 14: “We’ve had a really rough couple of years. I want the world to know that we are standing strong against cancer as a family,” said Allyson.

When Allyson set about organising the ceremony, people responded so generously that the day should be spectacular.

Allyson said: “I thought it would be just about the day to show everybody we are still happy and that we won’t give up. But people’s generosity has really touched me.”




READ the full version of this story only in our print and eChron editions