A RAMSBOTTOM woman with terminal cancer who was told to bring forward her wedding because she was not responding to treatment will walk down the aisle thanks to the help of a charity.

Kathryn De-Wet and Nick Slattery will tie the knot on February 7 at the Bolholt Hotel, with the help of Gift Of A Wedding, a charity which helps people with terminal or life-shortening illnesses organise a wedding if they do not have enough money or time to do so themselves.

The couple, who have both been in previous marriages, first met about four-and-half years ago when Nick moved into the house, in Carr Bank Avenue, as a lodger.

They kept in touch after Nick moved out, and about a year later the pair became romantically involved.

Through most of their time together, Kathryn has been ill, and was later told that the breast cancer, which had then spread to her bones and lungs, was terminal.

The pair became engaged nine months ago after a romantic meal in Chester.

But just before Christmas, doctors told Kathryn that treatment was not progressing as expected, and whilst they could not give her a specific timeframe, advised her to bring forward the wedding, which had originally been planned for later in the year.

Kathryn said: "It turned my eyes to what was important, and I wanted to get married.

"They told me I had to get married as quickly as possible, and it was a bit of an impossible task for just two people, and that's where the charity came in. Without them, we couldn't have got where we are, in terms of the planning."

Kathryn, aged 41, who used to work for Bury Council in organisational development, continues to receive treatment at The Christie, and said it is good to have something positive to look forward to.

She said: "It is about everything being positive. You focus so much on the palliative care, and the cancer, the treatment is like a full-time job. It is good to be able to focus on something positive and deliver something that will bring good memories.

"It changes your focus on everything, about what you want in life, what do you want achieve, and what your goals are. Everything is shortened, so it becomes a lot more important."

Nick, aged 46, who works as a mechanical engineer, added: "Our life has been on hold really A lot of the things we like to do have been put on hold. We like holidays but basically we haven't been able to have any hobbies.

"I can't wait for the wedding - it should be an amazing day."

The Stalybridge-based charity which offered to step in and help arrange the weddings was founded about three years ago by Patricia Harrison, who works in the wedding planning industry and was inspired after one of her friends was given 14 months to live after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

Patricia said: "I have been wedding planning for quite a few years now, and I just spoke to people I knew in the industry and said 'Can you help us out?'

"I thought people would just offer discounts, but we had about £10,000 worth of stuff for free at the wedding. I thought if there is one family like this, then there must be others.

"I did a bit of research and saw there were lots of people there who needed it, so I decided I would give something back.

"It has been a honour and a privilege to be entrusted with such an important event in people's lives, especially under circumstances such as Kathryn and Nick's."

Kathryn also hopes that she will be able to walk down the aisle herself, and that the treatment will not force her to use a wheelchair on the day.

She added: "It all depends on the treatment, but that would make it even more special."

The couple hope to embark on a short honeymoon after the wedding, but Kathryn is set to continue her treatment the following week.