Inspirational Natalie is looking forward to having a dream wedding

IT IS one of the last wishes of a brave teenager who has terminal cancer.
Natalie Turner with fiance John DaniellsNatalie Turner with fiance John Daniells
Natalie Turner with fiance John Daniells

Now Natalie Turner, from Southsea, who has a rare form of bone cancer called Ewing’s sarcoma, will get to wed her fiancé.

The 19-year-old entered a competition run by Portsmouth Marriott Hotel, in North Harbour, to win a wedding earlier this year.

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Couples had to tell their story and gain ‘likes’ on Facebook to win. And after Natalie’s story was shared extensively online, prompting a huge outpouring of community support, the hotel chain decided to take her out of the contest and pay for her wedding anyway.

Natalie said she was ‘over the moon’ to be told that she can marry her fiancé John Daniells, who she has been in a relationship with since she was 15.

Natalie said: ‘I was in the competition and I was first for a while, but then another couple shot up with over 1,000 likes.

‘We managed to catch up, but a lot of our likes were from friends and friends of friends. Then the hotel called me in with John and my sisters, mum and two aunties.

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‘My auntie knew what they were going to do as she was in contact with them. She knew but didn’t tell us, so when they told us we were all crying in the room. Everyone was so happy.’

Thousands of people showed their support for Natalie, who was diagnosed with cancer in November 2014.

The disease was originally found in her ankle, forcing her to have her leg amputated. But this did not stop the inspirational teen from completing the Race for Life on crutches last summer, and again earlier this month.

Natalie was given the all-clear in October last year, but in February she was given the devastating news that the cancer had returned and spread to her lungs.

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She is currently undergoing chemotherapy and is trying to stay positive.

‘It is not affecting me as much as my other chemotherapy,’ she said.

‘So I am out a lot more and I’m not really that ill, which is good.’

Natalie has drawn up a list of things she would like to do, including going on a family holiday to Disneyland Paris – and she is off to Spain this week.

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The teenager has also been busy planning her big day, which will take place later this summer, and says she is grateful for the help she’s received, including getting a discounted dress, free car hire, flowers from a neighbour, plus much more.

She also said she is looking forward to her hen party, which she is sharing with the stags, at Bunn Leisure Holidays in Selsey.

Natalie’s family have been raising money to help her dreams come true and they have raised more than £10,000 so far.

To make a donation, and to see what Natalie has been up to, visit gofundme.com/5n2y6sv8.

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