'˜The wedding was all planned': Memorial night for engaged woman who died aged 43 within weeks of cancer diagnosis

Helen Gibson, 43, had planned to marry the love of her life Joanne Keir when Helen was taken into hospital.

She was admitted to the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, last August with sepsis and scans found a growth which turned out to be cancer.

Helen and Joanne, of Hartlepool, had named a date to get married in September last year, but they were unable to in hospital.

Helen, who also had spina bifida, died just nine weeks later on October 11, just a day after going into Alice House Hospice.

Devastated Joanne, 40, and her mum Margaret Keir are organising a fundraising night in memory of Helen to raise money for the hospice at the end of the month.

Margaret said: “From finding out [about the cancer] to her dying it was only nine weeks.

“The wedding was all planned. It has really devastated my daughter.

“They were so in love. Joanne looked after Helen and took her out in her wheelchair.”

Margaret described Helen, from Horden, as “a lovely girl”.

She said: “She liked telling jokes and was so jolly.

“Even though she has spina bifida she didn’t let it affect her.

“She was a character and made my daughter really happy,”

The fundraising night will be held on Thursday, January 31, at the Rovers Quoit Club, in Easington Road, and starts at 7pm.

It promises a great night of entertainment with performances from the Elwick Academy of Dance and the Northern Arts School of Dance.

There will also be various stalls, a raffle and tombola, to help boost the night’s proceeds for the hospice.

Margaret added: “The care the hospice gave her was magnificent, we couldn’t fault them.

“They are angels.”

Tickets for the night are £3 available on the door or in advance from Margaret at 154 West View Road, or call (01429) 686693.