By Leicester Mercury | Posted 18 February, 2018
A groom whose terminally ill grandma died shortly before his wedding took comfort in knowing his big day was supporting the hospice that cared for her.
Bruce Smith and his fiancé Cathie, of Sileby, had planned to marry in August this year but they changed the date after Bruce found out his grandma Rose Wheater had terminal ovarian cancer.
They moved the wedding forward to October 2017 but, sadly, Rose died at LOROS in Leicester just a week before seeing her grandson wed.
Despite their sadness, Bruce said he was happy to know that because Cathie’s wedding dress had been bought at the LOROS Bridal Boutique, their big day was supporting the Groby Road hospice, which had done so much for his beloved grandma.
Bruce, 26, said: “She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer mid-2016 and by September 2017, it was very aggressive and had spread considerably.
“We were facing the reality of knowing it was a case of weeks, not months.
“Of course the fairytale ending would have been for us to share the day with grandma but that just wasn’t meant to be.
“But I can remember sitting in LOROS with her and reading a leaflet about what donations of a certain amount could do and that was when it hit home, that everything was meant to be.
“The £150 that Cathie had spent on her dress was enough to ensure that people like Grandma had what we thought was the best possible care for the last days of their life.
“There is truly nothing more humbling and reassuring than that.
“Knowing that the money spent on the dress had made such a difference to a patient’s life, was such a special gift.”
The dress has now been donated back to the LOROS boutique in Market Street, Leicester, so that it can be enjoyed by another bride and raise yet more vital funds for the hospice.
Cathie, 23, said she was delighted with the dress, which she came across while walking along Market Street one day.
Bruce, whose grandfather Fred was also cared for by the hospice 10 years ago, said: “The atmosphere was such a contrast to some of the other bridal shops she had visited.
“It was immediately clear that this was going to be the right place to buy her wedding dress, with the staff having such a laid-back approach and genuinely taking an interest in what Cathie wanted.
“An hour later, all was sorted and Cathie had bought a stunning dress for £150, which was a fraction of the cost it would have been to buy new, plus it was designer.”
To book an appointment at the boutique call 0116 254 8112. The shop will welcome all dress donations.
