A MAN from Birkenhead is preparing to give his partner of 16 years her 'dream wedding' after she was told she had stage four cervical cancer.

Emma Clarke, 31, began experiencing heavy bleeding and went to her local GP who told her that her coil had become lodged and it had lacerated her womb.

Following this, Emma continued to go about her daily life, losing lots of blood and even becoming anemic.

After Emma received a professional examination she was diagnosed in February 2022 with stage three cervical cancer.

Following her diagnosis, due to the size of her tumour Emma's bowels closed and she had to have a stoma bag fitted.

Emma also had to stop chemotherapy at one point, as she developed acute kidney damage from the treatment.

After a year of treatment, Emma received the devastating news that her cancer was at stage four, and had spread to her lungs in January 2023. She was given a life expectancy of 12 months.

'This has all happened so fast'

Emma and her partner David Rice, 33, met at college and have three children, David Jr (11), Keeley-May (10) and Ariella (5).

Speaking to the Globe, David said: "Me and Emma are pretty working class and we don't have excess money to spend.

"This has all happened so fast. 12 months ago she was given the diagnosis and now she has 12 months to live.

"I've never been able to marry Emma and give her the big wedding she has always wanted.

"Once we were given the life expectancy of 12 months, Louise and her husband, who is a work colleague of mine, asked to set up a GoFundMe."

Wirral Globe:

Emma, who is a manager at a local sunbed shop, is well-known in the community.

David added: "She is the most caring girl ever. 

"She's more concerned about what she is leaving behind. She's not facing her personal journey standing still."

On Sunday (January 22) Louise Bell, a close family friend, set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for Emma and David to have their dream wedding this year.

The page has already raised over £4,000.

If the GoFundMe exceeds the amount the couple needs for their wedding, the rest of the donations will go to a cancer charity.

David added: "We're both overwhelmed really. We didn't expect so much support from people that we know, and anonymous donators.

"Emma is very keen to spread the word so women get their smear tests and for the Government to lower the age to 16."

Emma and David have set a date for their wedding on Saturday, April 29.

To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/emma-and-dava-have-their-dream-wedding.

#CervicalCancerPreventionWeek

This week is #CervicalCancerPreventionWeek.

Symptoms of cervical cancer include:

  • vaginal bleeding that's unusual for you – including bleeding during or after sex, between your periods or after the menopause, or having heavier periods than usual
  • changes to your vaginal discharge
  • pain during sex
  • pain in your lower back, between your hip bones (pelvis), or in your lower tummy