4:14am Wednesday 7th May 2008
By Mel Fairhurst
A brave bride-to-be has lost her battle against inoperable mouth cancer - just four weeks before she was set to marry the man of her dreams.
Now, instead of walking down the aisle in her dream gown, Michelle Fuller will be buried in the wedding dress she vowed to wear.
She will also wear the wedding ring she was set to receive from fiance Mall Brown, 31, at St John's Church in Clayton on June 7.
Nurses were assisting Michelle at her Clayton home, where she lived with Mall and her seven-year-old daughter, Morgan, on Sunday evening when she suffered a relapse.
Emergency services were called and she was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary, but the 33-year-old could not be resuscitated.
She died a year after being diagnosed with throat cancer. Earlier this year, she was given the devastating news that the cancer was inoperable.
Her friend Carol Simpson launched an appeal in the Telegraph & Argus to give Michelle the wedding of her dreams and donations came pouring in, including her £800 Spanish wedding dress.
Carol said Michelle was determined to make it down the aisle.
She said: "I asked her about bringing the wedding forward, but she said I will make it one way or another, whether I am walking down or lying down'.
"She had such a good sense of humour about everything. Her friends always say we wish we had just an ounce of her courage.
"It has been an honour being her friend. She was just lovely and beautiful."
Her devastated finance, Mall, said: "I loved her and she loved me. She was so brave."
Michelle's mother, Eileen Fuller, who lives in Bingley, with Michelle's dad, Peter, said: "I am trying to be strong, as Michelle used to put her finger up and say Mum, don't!' when she didn't want to see me get upset. She was marvellous, she was my star.
"I would like to thank people who helped arrange her wedding; I have never in my life seen so many generous people come forward to help Michelle.
"I just hope others can get something out of this. Don't just let people fade away; you have got to keep hoping."
Michelle also leaves a brother, Tony, and sister, Anita.
Money raised as a result of the wedding appeal will now be donated to wards 18 and 19 at Bradford Royal Infirmary, where Michelle was cared for.
She requested that something be put back to help other cancer sufferers.
Some of the money will also help fund a holiday for her daughter.
A spokesman for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "Everyone here at the trust was saddened to hear that Michelle has lost her brave battle with cancer and would like to offer our sincere condolences to Michelle's family and friends at this difficult time.
"We would also like to offer our thanks to Michelle's family for choosing to donate to Bradford Royal Infirmary."
Clayton Village Primary School, which Morgan attends, has donated about £450 after holding fundraising events.
An event originally organised to fund Michelle's honeymoon will still go ahead tomorrow evening with money raised benefiting the new causes.
The event, which will be supported by Bradford Bulls players Craig Kopczak and David Halley, takes place at The Fiddlers Three, in Pasture Lane, Clayton, from 7pm. Tickets cost £5 and there will be refreshments.
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