I do is grooms dying wish (From Western Telegraph)

I do is grooms dying wish

A bridegroom lost his brave battle against skin cancer only two days after his wedding.

Talented Pembroke Dock sportsman Mark Lee, 29, was told a fortnight ago that there was nothing more doctors could do for him. He and his fiancee - 18-year-old Katherine Muller - decided to get married. Family and friends immediately rallied round. A special licence was rushed through, the wedding was arranged at the Holyland Hotel, Pembroke, and guests from all over the country were invited.

On Saturday afternoon, Mark was flown by helicopter to the hotel, where a radiant Kathy was waiting for him. The marriage took place at 5.30 pm, messages of good wishes from America and Ireland were read out, there was dancing until the early hours and a brilliant fireworks display. Mark smiled the whole day long, said his proud mother Rhona, of 9 Cheriton Road, Pembroke Dock. It will be our lasting memory of him. His wife Kathy has been such a brick. They loved each other so much and there was so much happiness in their house. We will always be grateful to her, said Rhona, speaking on behalf of herself and her husband Bernie.

Everyone has been wonderful. My good friend Pam Jones and her daughter Julie took all the wedding arrangements completely out of my hands and it was a fantastic wedding. Everyone worked so hard to make it a wonderful day. Even the registrar split herself in two so the wedding could go ahead in the evening.

The Holyland Hotel let the couple have the bridal suite and arranged a champagne breakfast. On the Sunday, Marks parents decorated their garden and organised a buffet for family and friends. It really was a way of saying goodbye to him, said Rhona. Mark, a fine footballer who played for the League of Wales, always wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father Bernie, who coaches youngsters at Monkton Swifts.

In 1999, he went for 18 months to America where he was involved in youth football. While there he formed a close friendship with his mothers cousin Norma, and his dearest wish was to return there to see her again. Geraldine Porter, licensee of the Marks local, the Alma in Pembroke Dock, started fundraising to make his dream come true. She enlisted the aid of her customers, and other pubs and clubs in the town. But Mark became too ill to travel and the money was given to him and Kathy instead.

It was Geraldine who enlisted the aid of Peter Kraus in arranging the helicopter trip to the hotel.

It was a wonderful wedding, said Geraldine, who was one of the guests. They both looked so lovely and so happy. And the family and guests were happy for them,

Mark became very ill on Monday - less than 36 hours after the wedding. He was taken to hospital and died just after 10 pm that night. Mark was such a lovely person. We are all very proud to have had him as a friend, said Geraldine.

I would personally like to thank everyone who took part in the collection for Mark and for helping to make it such a special day for him and Kathy. o The funeral took place on Saturday - a week after the wedding - at Gilgal Chapel, Pembroke Dock, where a number of personal tributes were paid to Mark.

PICTURE: Chris Evans-Thomas.