A man with terminal cancer who has just days to live has married his fiancee in a moving ceremony at his hospice that was arranged in just 24 hours.
Ray Kershaw, 63, and Tracy Brooks, 45, were overwhelmed by kind donations from strangers, which paid for the whirlwind wedding.
The couple had hoped to get married in Tenerife next year but had to abandon their plans after Mr Kershaw was diagnosed with cancer of the intestine in March.
The charity Gift of a Wedding put out a call for donations for a ceremony originally scheduled for June 2.
But as Ray's condition deteriorated, the wedding was brought forward to Saturday, giving the couple's families and the charity less than 24 hours to organise their big day.
Within hours of the charity publishing an appeal, strangers and businesses had offered to pay for everything from flowers and outfits to a cake. Mr Kershaw and Miss Brooks got married at the hospice where he is being cared for, Springhill Hospice in Rochdale, in a moving ceremony attended by family, friends and nursing staff.
Miss Brooks's niece and bridesmaid, Melissa King, said the couple, from Shawclough, Rochdale, had been overwhelmed by everyone's generosity.
Miss King said: Ray and Tracy knew the cancer was terminal so all they wanted was to get married.
What Gift of a Wedding did was incredible. They were up all hours the night before the wedding to make sure it happened. I know Tracy and Ray can't thank everyone enough for making it happen. We can't believe how much people donated at such short notice.'
Gift of a Wedding wrote in a post on Facebook: Rochdale you're just the best! Thank you so much for pulling together to help us with this urgent wedding today.'
© Daily Mail