Danika's dream comes true

For the 18-year-old will tie the knot knowing she faces months of chemotherapy for the fourth time in her young life.

Danika, who lives in Ramleaze, West Swindon, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in September 2000 and has bravely fought off the cancer three times.

She has seen her best friend die from cancer and has had to witness many of her other friends from the Swindon Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Movement (Calm) struggle with illness.

On top of that her dad Paul overcame a brain tumour three years ago, while her great granddad, Thomas Povey, died of prostate cancer the same year.

However, shortly after getting engaged on Valentine's Day she received the news she had been dreading - the cancer had come back with a vengeance.

She was diagnosed with five tumours in her abdomen and has only recently come out of hospital after having one of the growths removed.

Yet one look at her smiling face tells you all need to know about this remarkable young lady. She's a fighter and she has brought forward her wedding to April 7 so she can put up another almighty scrap with the condition.

But rather than feel sorry for herself Danika's humility shines through at every opportunity.

"There is a lot more people worse off than me," she said. "Once you have had it for seven years it becomes part of your life.

"My best friend died from it and I know how hard it was for her. As long as I'm alive I will fight it.

"I'm one of the last ones left so I'm not going to let it beat me."

A former student at Ridgeway School, Danika has been an inspiration to many giving up her spare time to help the elderly and to decorate the Great Western Hospital's children's ward.

It earned her a Princess Diana award. But Danika has never been one for a fuss, all she has ever wanted is to live a normal life.

So when she got the all-clear from the hospital for a third time and started dating Gavin Brown all her dreams came true.

"Gavin was my boss when I worked at Asda, we went out on a few dates and took it from there really," explained Danika. "We got on so well and we had been going out for a year when he proposed.

"It was Valentine's Day this year and Gavin didn't get me a card."

"She thought I had forgotten," recalls Gavin, 20, who now works for Thames Water. "But I gave her a fiancée's card instead. She thought I was messing about and didn't really twig, but when I got the ring out it all made sense."

The couple immediately started planning dates and opted for May next year, but their world was turned upside down when Danika was diagnosed yet again with the tumours.

She said: "I hadn't been feeling well for a couple of months and at first when they did the tests they thought I had Auto Immune Disease because I was displaying some of the symptoms.

"But they did further tests and they discovered the tumours. We've brought the wedding forward because I don't want to get married without any hair and, to be honest, we don't know what is going to happen in the future."

Danika and Gavin will be married at the Ivy Hotel in Wroughton on Easter Saturday and the bride-to-be admits she can't wait for her big day. "I'm really looking forward to it - all of it," she said.

"I've got my dress sorted out. It's always been my dream to get married."

Danika spent Saturday night in Bristol on her hen do with 25 of her friends and the party travelled along the M4 in style in two stretch limousines.

Her 14-year-old sister Jade will be one of three bridesmaids, while she will also have three pageboys.

However, she has opted to dispense with one wedding tradition.

"I don't really like cake so I thought I'd do something different for the wedding cake and have a Ferrero Rocher mountain instead," she said.

Danika's mum Karen says the big day is going to be an emotional one for all the family.

She said: "All the family are going to be there. There won't be a dry eye. It's not easy for anybody and it's not nice seeing your daughter in so much pain and not being able to do anything about it.

"We have been here three times before, but I have to say throughout everything Danika has been so positive. When she was told she had five tumours she said Why have one when you can have five'.

"I will be so proud of her when I see her in her dress."