THE organisers of a wedding fair in Chipping Sodbury next month are not only hoping to sell plenty of marriage memorabilia – they are also appealing for donations to help terminally ill brides-to-be.

The fair on Sunday, February 24 (12noon-4pm) at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall is supporting new charity The Wedding Wishing Well Foundation.

The Somerset-based organisation was only set up last year by Naomi Thomas who, at the age of 28 and just six days after giving birth, was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer and told she had only five years to live.

Naomi and her partner Graham desperately wanted to tie the knot so they could live as husband and wife for as long as possible and in 2011, a wedding planner stepped forward and offered to organise the big day with lots of local wedding-related companies providing their services for free.

Naomi got married in June 2012 and has since set about organising other terminally ill people’s dream wedding.

Wayne Smith, who runs Ken’s Kars from his home in Blanchards, Chipping Sodbury, heard about the foundation and wanted to help.

“It is such a good cause,” he said. “Anyone person who is at all emotional is going to care.

“Everybody know someone who has died from cancer or who is suffering with it. It is one of those everyone can associated with.”

Mr Smith, 34, said he had chauffeured a lady with terminal cancer to and from her wedding last year.

“She has since passed away,” he said. “But if you can’t do something like that when you are in a position to help, well, it is a poor job really.”

Mr Smith said a number of Yate and Chipping Sodbury-based florists, dress shops, DJs and toastmasters have agreed to give their services for free should the charity be helping someone organise their wedding in the area.

The Wedding Wishing Well Foundation will be holding a stall at the Chipping Sodbury wedding fair and is appealing for anyone with any donations to bring them on the day. Wedding dresses, bridesmaids dresses, tiaras or shoes or other wedding-related items will be welcomed.

The fair will also feature two fashion shows, with dresses from Future Brides, at 1pm and 3pm and other stalls including Sodbury Florists, jewellery makers, cake decorators, local photographers, discos and DJs.

For further information about the charity visit www.weddingwishingwell.org.uk