Dad’s thanks to ‘incredible’ North Devon for giving his terminally ill daughter the wedding of her dreams

A grateful dad has praised the people of North Devon for their overwhelming kindness in stepping up to ensure his terminally ill daughter is able to have the wedding of her dreams.

Phil Dear appealed on social media for donations from local wedding suppliers for help to make the Sandy Cove wedding of his eldest daughter Skye, aged just 24, a truly special occasion and an opportunity to make wonderful memories

Tragically, Skye has terminal osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer and doctors have warned the family to ‘make the next few weeks and months count’.

Phil, whose family live near Cambridge in Suffolk, launched a GoFundMe page that has so far raised more than £14,000 and will pay for the July 31 wedding at the clifftop hotel near Combe Martin.

But to add the details that will make the day extra special for Skye and her fiancé Cam Anderson, Phil appealed just a week ago via the What’s On North Devon Facebook page for anyone who might be able to offer wedding services such as photography, entertainment, beauticians or flowers – and he was bowled over by the incredible response.

Above: Phil Dear and his daughter Skye have been overwhelmed by the generosity of others after appealing for help so she can make memories at her dream wedding.

Phil told the Gazette: “On behalf of our family, I would like to extend our deepest thanks to the incredible community of North Devon for the overwhelming kindness and generosity shown as we prepare for my daughter’s wedding at Sandy Cove.

“From talented photographers to creative decorators, gifted violinists to generous bakers, DJs, dressmakers and so many more. Your offers of help have touched us deeply. The warmth and support we’ve received has been truly humbling.

“Devon really has a wonderful community and we are sincerely grateful to each and every one of you who reached out. Thank you for helping to make this day so meaningful.”

Skye has been fighting cancer since she was diagnosed three years ago - the treatment has meant she has lost the use of one of her legs and needs to use a wheelchair.

The terrible diagnosis comes on top of Phil and the family losing his wife Gem to another aggressive form of bone cancer in July 2017 and his mum Lynda passed away in November 2019 from a form of blood cancer.

Phil, who is also dad to two younger daughters, Kelis, 20 and Sienna, 12, told the Suffolk News it had been heart-breaking to see Skye go through the same thing, but he had to remain strong for his other daughters and praised his partner Jayde for her support.

Above: Skye Dear and her younger sister Kelis.

The family launched a GoFundMe to try and give Skye and Cam the opportunity to create as many joyful memories while they could and Phil praised Cam for being so good at looking after Skye, especially since they moved to a more accessible home in nearby Newmarket.

On the fundraising page, Phil said they were going to focus on living and added: “Doctors have urged her to start doing anything important she wants to do, and to do it soon.

“While they can’t give us an exact timeline, they’ve made it clear that the next few weeks and months are precious.”

On her own social media, Skye said: “Cancer has stolen so much from me over the years… first my mum, then my nan and now it’s unfortunately getting the better of me - as much as I’m letting it anyway.

“It’s a strange thing to be told you’re dying when you don’t feel like you are.

“For a while I’ve prepared myself for this news, so much that I’ve hardly shed a tear in comparison to all else I’ve endured the past three years.

“I have two little sisters I think of every day, I’d go through it all again and again if it meant they were forever safe from this disease.

“My final wish would be to get to marry someone who’s been there for me every step of the way, every single day, without fail, I really don’t know where I’d be today or how I’d be feeling if I didn’t have him.”

Phil said he cannot emphasise his gratitude to the people of North Devon enough and said the wedding was looking set to be a magical day thanks to their help.

One final thing he is trying to secure for Skye and Cam is a honeymoon location, something in the North Devon or wider Devon area that is wheelchair accessible and where they could stay for a few days.

If you feel you could offer something suitable, please contact us at the North Devon Gazette by emailing newsdesk@northdevongazette.co.uk and we will put you in touch with Phil.

The family’s GoFundMe page can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-my-daughter-live-her-final-chapter-to-the-fullest