FRIENDS of a terminally-ill cancer sufferer helped her to organise the wedding of her dreams to her husband of 26 years.
Karen Hegarty, 43, of Foxfield Close, Oswaldtwistle, has already celebrated her silver wedding to George, 50, who she married in a register office aged 17.
But she had always dreamed of a fairytale white wedding in a church.
And on Sunday the couple, who have two sons, Nigel, 23, and Ashlee, 11, had a blessing and renewed their marriage vows in St Paul's Church, Oswaldtwistle, in front of more than 100 family and friends.
Karen was diagnosed with lung cancer last August and has since undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Doctors have said surgery is not an option.
She and George had always hoped to be able to renew their vows in a traditional church ceremony and Karen's best friend, Dawn Furness, 41, of Milton Street, suggested that now would be a good time, as Karen is not currently receiving treatment.
Dawn and several other friends helped organise the day, which included a party at Oswaldtwistle Conservative Club, a limousine to take Karen to the church and a three-tier wedding cake.
They also arranged a beautician to do Karen's make-up, while George and Karen's brother Grant, who gave her away, prepared food for the buffet.
Karen wore an ivory dress she bought after seeing it in a shop window in the hope that she could wear it one day for her dream wedding.
Her friend, Marie Jones, made alterations to the gown so it was more comfortable for Karen, and Dawn and her husband Derek also arranged a night in the honeymoon suite at the Dunkenhalgh Hotel for the happy couple, where they found champagne in their room and rose petals strewn on the bed.
Karen said: "The day was absolutely fantastic. We couldn't afford a big wedding when we got married and it was something I had always wanted. We had already decided to do it but my friends gave me the push to do it now, while I was feeling well.
"I saw the dress last year and bought it. I had to wear it. It was like a fairytale.
"George and I were married young, at 17, and we have been through the mill together. The whole day was wonderful. I am still in bed recovering but it was worth it."
George added: "We had always hoped to have a church ceremony for our 25th wedding anniversary but it didn't happen.
"The whole day was amazing and Karen looked absolutely gorgeous. It was nice for the children too."
Friends of the couple also rallied round to add some other extra-special surprise touches to their day, including champagne donated by the Co-op, a £50 travel voucher from Fraser Eagle and celebratory balloons. Special thanks were given to Macmillan nurses who have helped care for Karen since her diagnosis.
