A WEDDING took place at a city-based hospice for a couple who have known each other for more than 30 years.
Sarah Jane Coaley married Jim Appleton in her room on the In-patient Unit at St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester, surrounded by their parents and hospice staff on Friday, January 12.
The room was decorated, champagne was popped, and Sarah was given her grandmother’s ring to wear by her mum.
Sarah, 57, who has cancer and is being cared for by St Richard’s, said it “means everything” to her to be married.
The couple first met at a mutual friend’s house and hit it off straight away.
Jim, 52, who lives in Malvern, said: “To be married now, it feels very natural, it feels right. It feels like something has been completed.
“I just love Sarah very much. She is a huge part of my life. We have been through so much together; Sarah’s illness has brought us closer together.
“To be married, I just wanted some happiness – I wanted something positive. There is always light in every dark situation.
“There are beautiful things happening every day.”
Debbie Westwood, Care Director at St Richard’s Hospice, said: “We were delighted to host Sarah and Jim’s wedding, and send our heartfelt congratulations to them both.
“It is our privilege to make moments like this possible for patients and those important to them.
“We can only do this with the support of our community, who so generously help us continue to fund our services to patients and their loved ones. Thank you.”
St Richard’s Hospice is an independent charity caring for adults with a serious progressive illness, improving their quality of life from diagnosis, during treatment to their last days and supporting those important to them.
Each year the hospice team supports more than 3,100 patients, family members and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
It costs £10.28m to run the hospice, which includes patient care and all the necessary support services.
St Richard’s relies on donations and gifts in Wills for the majority of its income with the remainder funded by the NHS.
For more information about St Richard’s Hospice visit www.strichards.org.uk
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