A woman who married her terminally ill partner on a Furness General Hospital ward visited to make a donation of £1,500 in her husband’s memory. 

Former Barrow police officers Mark and Lianne Dempster married on Ward 9 at the hospital during the summer, a day after being told that Mark had incurable cancer. 

Staff on the ward helped to organise the wedding, booking the registrar, arranging hair and make up and even offering their own wedding dresses for Lianne to wear. 

Lianne visited the ward in October to make the donation in Mark’s memory. 

She said: “Making the donation to the ward was a bit of a thank you, and Mark would have been all for that. 

“I was a bit anxious about going back, because I hadn’t been since Mark was discharged. I was a bit teary, but everyone helped to put me at ease. It was totally the right thing to do.” 

Former Barrow police officers Mark and Lianne Dempster married on Ward 9 at the hospital during the summer, a day after being told that Mark had incurable cancer. 

Money for the donation was raised at a car rally organised in memory of Mark, who was a rally driver and passionate car enthusiast. 

Local businesses donated prizes for a raffle at the event, organised by Lianne with friends Edward Mudd and Chris Williams, which raised a total of £2,600. JD Motors in Dalton-in-Furness donated a further £400 to make the total up to £3,000. There are plans to make the rally an annual event, held in September close to Mark’s birthday. 

She said: “Mark won’t be forgotten, but it’s nice to be able to do this to keep his memory going. He gave so much in his life, and we want to carry that on for him.” 

Funds raised at the rally were split equally between Bay Hospitals Charity and Macmillan Cancer Support. 

Bay Hospitals Charity Head of Charity Suzanne Lofthouse said: “It was so emotional to meet Lianne and hear about the way she and Mark were looked after by the team on Ward 9. 

“We are very grateful for her donation to Bay Hospitals Charity, and will ensure that the money is used in Mark’s memory to support patient care on the ward.” 

Bay Hospitals Charity funds the latest equipment for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust to help ensure the best possible care and treatment for patients.   

To donate and support your local NHS hospital, contact Bay Hospitals Charity on 01524 516064 or email [email protected]