A COUPLE who have been together for 28 years are hoping to get married after one of them was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

A fundraising page has been set up to give Marc Anning, 53, who was recently found to have untreatable stomach cancer, and Clare Lupton, 44, their big day.

Their daughter, Chantelle Anning, spoke about a difficult few months for the Park South couple, and how she is determined for something positive to come out of it.

She said: “My mum and dad have been together for 28 years, but they are not married because everything else got in their way.

“Back in July, my dad started to lose weight quite rapidly. They referred him to the hospital for checks and he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.”

While waiting for the results of a biopsy, Marc again became ill as a result of a perforated stomach, and was admitted to a hospital in Oxford.

He returned to Swindon on September 15, the same day as Chantelle’s son – Marc’s first grandchild – was born.

But it was not to be the end of his medical problems, as Marc was later rushed back into hospital with septicaemia and developed an abscess on his liver.

Chantelle said: “A consultant came last Monday, and he was told he was terminal.

“He was told he was too poorly to have chemotherapy, and too poorly to have his stomach removed: he wouldn’t survive either. He’s back at home now having palliative care.

“He doesn’t know how long he has left. They gave him the option to know and he said he didn’t want to.

“It’s been really difficult. Mum doesn’t drive, so it’s things like not being able to drive and see him while he’s in Oxford. They’ve never really spent a night apart before.”

Chantelle has decided to use this opportunity to spur her parents into action, and give them the wedding day they have never yet managed to have.

In a sign of the esteem in which the couple are held, the fundraising page set up by Chantelle to give her parents their big day has so far broken comfortably though its £1,000 target – so any extra will go towards making the day even more special.

Chantelle said: “They were happy to go to the register office and then the local pub, and I said, ‘no, you’re not doing that, you need something special’.

“My mum wants to get married by midday, and then have a light afternoon do where all our friends and family get together; maybe a buffet, maybe a bit of entertainment – my dad’s really into his music.

“He also loves his Formula One, so if anyone has a Ferrari around they want to drop him off in, that would be perfect!”

To contribute to Clare and Marc’s wedding fundraiser, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chantelle-anning