Family say emotional farewell to cancer bride who died hours before her wedding as strangers donate £100k to charity in her memory
Anna Swabey wrote a blog that inspired thousands as well as raising money for brain tumour research
A BRAVE cancer victim’s charity fundraising bid reached its £100,000 target on the day of her funeral.
Anna Swabey, 25, had set herself the target of raising £100,000 for brain tumour research – on Friday, as her family laid her to rest, her goal was reached.
Anna died last week, the day before she was due to marry Andy Bell.
Her sister Victoria told that Anna’s funeral was the “saddest day of our lives”, adding “we feel very privileged to have loved and been loved by her”.
She continued: “We knew that Anna was terminally ill of course but we always hoped against hope that we would have more time together.
“She had been through so much. She was one of a kind and we will cherish the memory of every minute we had together for the rest of our lives.”
Anna was told she had three years to live after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in January 2015.
She went on to inspire thousands of people by writing a blog about her fight against cancer.
Last year she met the man of her dreams on dating app Tinder and the couple had planned to marry last Saturday (Sept 17).
But a day before her wedding Anna’s family announced she had died after her condition took a drastic turn for the worse.
Posting on Facebook they said: “Anna passed away peacefully in the early hours of this morning.
“I cannot put into words the heartbreak we all feel, but amongst our sadness, we are so proud of her courage, her spirit and the determination she showed throughout her illness.
“If ever there was a person to show us how to live, it’s Anna Louise Swabey, our beautiful, brave girl.”
Since being diagnosed with an aggressive Grade Three brain tumour Anna had campaigned tirelessly to raise money for charity.
In a poignant final blog posted in July Anna said “I cannot wait to become Mrs Anna Louise Bell” before speaking about taking on another fundraiser.
Andy revealed earlier this year that he instantly fell head over heels in love with brave Anna.
From her dating profile he thought she was “absolutely beautiful, witty and funny”.
Anna told him about her diagnosis before their first date but Andy told the he knew he had to meet her.
The couple quickly became inseparable and 26-year-old Andy proposed knowing that he would be a widower before he turned 30.
He previously said all he wanted to do was “introduce her as my wife”.
In May Anna said in a blog “I knew halfway through my third date with Andy that I was going to break his heart.
“Not because I was going to cheat on him or dump him, but because I knew I was going to die.”
Her mum Linda said in a post earlier this year: “I am so very proud of my amazing daughter.
“Words can’t describe the emotional journey we’re on but I know we’ll enjoy every precious moment we have together as a family.”
Wendy Fulcher founder of the Brain Tumour Research Campaign said: “Anna was proud to stand alongside the national charity Brain Tumour Research, telling MPs of her experience and helping to shape the Petitions Committee report funding for research into brain tumours.
“Another bright light has gone out. Another young person has been taken by a brain tumour, this most cruel and crippling of cancers which kills more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other… just 1per cent of the national spend has been allocated to this devastating disease.
“Anna loved the fact she could make a difference. She certainly did that and I am so proud that I had the opportunity to know her.”
To donate via Anna’s Just Giving page .
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