Nick and Julie's generous gift

York Against Cancer has received a fantastic £1,000-plus from a couple who asked their wedding guests to donate money for us instead of giving presents to them.

Nick and Julie Haigh tied the knot at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park in July, five years after they had their first date there.

As both have successfully been treated for cancer during their relationship, and they had already moved in together, they didn’t want traditional wedding gifts and felt that the money would be better spent supporting charitable causes.

Nick, who’s from Church Fenton, had been treated for lymphoma in York and he and Julie had both been to our Whitby respite apartment, so they wanted us to benefit. “It was fabulous,” said Nick. “We wanted to support things like that, because it is a wonderful facility.”

Julie, who comes from Barnsley, has had breast cancer and is a long-time supporter of Barnsley Hospice, so the cash raised at their wedding was split between the two good causes.

Their kind guests raised so much money that the new Mr and Mrs Haigh were able to give us an impressive £1,052.50.

“What a lovely gesture from Nick and Julie,” said York Against Cancer general manager Julie Russell. “It’s fantastic generosity and will help us carry our work, which we know is so valued by people just like them.”