The dying wish of a 31-year-old man to marry his partner looks set to come true – thanks to Mercury readers.
Knill Paget and his girlfriend Bernadette Campbell have been inundated with offers of help since their tragic story featured on our front page on Saturday, from readers wanting to donate cash to companies offering food, cars and flowers for the big day.
Doctors told Knill he had a terminal brain tumour in February and he has just months to live.
His last wish is to marry Bernadette, so the couple and their five-year-old son, Liam, can become a "proper family".
Knill and Bernadette, of Braunstone, Leicester, are fund-raising to pay for the wedding, but offers of help are now flooding in.
Bernadette, 45, said she was overwhelmed by readers' generosity.
"It's amazing," she said. "People are so generous. We've been absolutely overwhelmed by it all. We've also had a brilliant response on Facebook. It's really heart-warming."
Adrian Bloodworth, of Quorndon Formal Hire, in Quorn, has offered to help with outfits for the day.
He said: "My mum read the story and showed it to me and I rang the Mercury straight away. I was really moved by the article and wanted to help out."
Swift Fox Cabs in Church Gate, Leicester, offered to donate a yellow Hackney cab or a saloon car for the day, while entertainer Phil Byrne, of Hinckley, is offering to supply the music.
He said: "If they want a disco I'm happy to do it for no charge. Over the years I've done a lot of work for good causes and when I read about this I wanted to help out.
"The fact Knill wants to get married is very noble and I think it's a great thing and want to offer my services."
Dave Kitto, of Barwell, has offered to film the wedding and produce a DVD, while Rachael Steel, of Loughborough, who owns Memories 4 Ever Photography, has offered to take pictures.
Meanwhile, Sarah Flowers, of Flowers by Sarah, in Quorn, has offered to provide a bouquet for Bernadette and button hole flowers.
She said: "It was my mum who saw the story and she was really moved by it and told me about it. I thought it would be good to help in any way I can."
Other Mercury readers are donating money.
Aiysha Naaz, 39, of Evington, is among those to have contacted the Mercury.
She said: "I read the story and felt it was important that they achieve their wish to marry.
"I felt very happy that he had found love and wanted to make that commitment.
"I think it's wonderful he has this great hope."
On Sunday (23rd), Bernadette and Knill's mum, Lorraine, are holding a sale and a raffle outside Lorraine's home in Duncan Avenue, Huncote, to raise money for the big day.
Bernadette said: "I've had a chat with a man who has got a lock-up full of things he's been planning to take to a car boot sale. He said we could have them for free.
"I really want to thank everyone so much for the amazing response since Saturday."
Paul Newcombe, 45, of Belgrave, Leicester, rang up to offer a House of Commons bottle of Scotch as a raffle prize for Sunday.
He said: "I read the article and it's just a very sad story.
"I'm the father of a three-year-old girl and this sort of thing really brings home to you the fact that you just don't know how long you've got."
Knill and Bernadette have set the big day as Thursday, July 25.
If you would like to do something to help, contact Mercury reporter Tom Mack on 0116 222 4264 or e-mail:
tommack@leicester.co.uk
-- photo
PICTURE: MIKE SEWELL
TOUCHING: @Knill gets a kiss from Bernadette
-- photo
PICTURE: CHRIS GORDON
OFFER: @Sarah Flowers
