Sidmouth stranger helped make young mum Naomi’s dream come true

A TERMINALLY ill bride whose wedding dream finally came true has set up a charity to help others in her situation to tie the knot.

Mum-of-one Naomi Thomas, 29, who has incurable cancer, will wed fianc� Graham on June 6 after she was given a helping hand by an events planner from Sidmouth she had never met before.

Sam Williams, of Bennetts Hill, contacted Naomi after reading in the Herald last November how she’d once been forced to cancel her special day because of her illness.

The duo, who have since become good friends, have formed a fundraising force and hope their Wedding Wishing Well Foundation can take off.

“Even if we can manage one wedding, then it will be worth it,” said Naomi, whose family home is in Manstone Avenue.

“We’ll look to help brides or grooms with a terminal or life-limiting illness.

“Hopefully we can make their dreams come true.”

Naomi says she is motivated by the memory of a friend, with the same diagnosis as her, who recently married her partner but sadly died a few weeks ago aged 30.

“Having that time as a married couple is so important, I know how much it will mean to Graham and I.

“It’s now important for us to be giving something back,” said Naomi.

Residents took Naomi to their hearts last year after the Herald told how she wanted to boost others while making the most of every day.

The former Sidmouth College student hoped she’d beaten breast cancer only to be told it had spread to her spine just days after the birth of her son, Devon, now 19-months-old.

“I still can’t quite believe my wedding is actually happening. I couldn’t have done it without Sam,” said Naomi.

The pair raised �4,000 for a trio of cancer charities with a Pink Ladies’ Day at Kennaway House in January.

Sam, also a mum-of-one, who runs Perfectly Planned Events, said: “It’s lovely helping people.”

For more on Naomi and Sam’s foundation visit: www.weddingwishingwell.org.uk