A young man, aged 23, who works as a refuse collector and is battling terminal cancer, was given a touching surprise by his colleagues who organized a convoy of garbage trucks to escort him to his wedding ceremony. Stephen Addley, a father to a one-year-old daughter, fulfilled one of his final wishes by marrying his fiancée Hannah in Dover.
Stephen received the devastating news in October that he had limited time left to live, merely three weeks after proposing to Hannah. He expressed his desire to spend his remaining time marrying Hannah and creating lasting memories with their child.
Their wedding, held at Bluebirds in Snargate Street, was made possible through the kindness of local businesses. Hannah recounted the emotional moment when Stephen saw the procession of bin trucks lined up for him, bringing tears to his eyes. She emphasized the significance of the event, highlighting how much Stephen is valued and loved by his colleagues.
The couple cherished the beautiful memories created on their wedding day. Hannah expressed gratitude for the support from the community and businesses that contributed to making the event a reality. The wedding dress was donated, and various individuals, including the venue owner and a photographer, offered their services free of charge.
Stephen was diagnosed with a rare form of sarcoma cancer in June, which had returned aggressively by October. Despite initial hopes for a fundraising campaign to send the family to Disney, Stephen’s health has been declining rapidly. Hannah assured that any remaining funds would be set aside for their daughter’s future.
The couple shared concerns about their daughter’s future in the absence of her father. Stephen expressed regret over not being able to leave behind more for his daughter and lamented that he would miss seeing her grow up.
Stephen’s cancer is linked to a condition called neurofibromatosis type 1, triggering the growth of tumors that can potentially develop into cancerous forms.