A YOUNG bride who got married just hours after her mum died from brain cancer has shared her tragic story in a bid to help others.

Becky Best, a Kendal mother-of-four, was 56 when she was diagnosed in June with an aggressive form of terminal brain cancer called Glioblastoma Multiforme.

When doctors told the family the devastating news, that their mum had less than a year to live, Mrs Best's daughter Nell, 24, and husband-to-be, Matt Cordukes, 29, decided to have their wedding as soon as they possibly could.

Despite Mrs Best's determination to walk Nell down the aisle, she tragically died 20 minutes after the bride-to-be and her sister Camille said their goodbyes to her before last Wednesday's wedding.

Mrs Cordukes, assistant manager at the Lakeland Maze Farm Park, at Sedgwick, told the Gazette she knew it would be the last time she would see her mum alive.

"She fought for as long as she could," she said. "Mum was determined to be there for the wedding.

"I stayed with her for as long as possible and when we said goodbye it was our way of giving her permission that it was alright to let go."

The marriage took place at Hipping Hall at Cowan Bridge, near Kirkby Lonsdale, and the family made sure their adored mum was present in some way.

The bridal bouquet had Mrs Best's rings delicately attached and an empty chair contained a framed photo of her.

"She wouldn't have wanted us to cancel the wedding" said Nell. "It was flipping hard on the day but she raised us to be tough and we made it as special as we could.

"And I don't usually believe in this sort of thing but she was definitely there, watching over us, making sure we were doing what we wanted to do.

"I mean, for the whole week it had been raining, and on the day we got married it was so sunny. That was mum. She sent us the sunshine and it was beautiful."

"She definitely got to the wedding in her own way."

Since last week's wedding the family have decided to channel their grief into a way of helping others by raising money for the Brain Tumour Charity.

Mrs Best was diagnosed in June this year and endured a whole cycle of 15 radiotherapy sessions at Preston and two weeks of chemotherapy as well as surgery.

The former primary school teacher was a full-time carer to her two sons Harry, 20, who has autism, and Thomas, 26, who suffers from chronic fatigue.

Mrs Cordukes described her mum as a strong and creative character, who "always put everyone's happiness before her own," and "always looked after everyone else".

Inspired by her kindness to others, the family have now set up a justgiving page to raise vital funds for the Brain Tumour Charity.

The organisation is the world's leading brain tumour charity and the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally.

It is set on finding new treatments, offering support and driving urgent change.

According to the charity, 100,000 people are currently living with a brain tumour and more than 5,000 people lose their lives to a brain tumour each year.

The charity's aim is to double the survival rate within 10 years.

Every pound donated to the charity has an impact in some way. For instance, £10 would enable the charity to get a crucial information pack to a patient at the point of diagnosis to reduce anxiety and depression and £20 a month could pay for two days of world-class research every year.

Well wishers have already donated around £1,000 in Mrs Best's name during the week since the wedding.

Sister Camille is also putting together make up bags and donating them to hospitals across the area for cancer patients.

"Nobody thinks this could happen to you until it actually does," continued Mrs Cordukes. "Now we want to help as many people as possible because we have the ability to do so many good things and that's what mum would have wanted.

"Looking at my life now all I want to do is help people."

Mrs Best's funeral will be held at St Mark's Parish Church, in Natland, at 1pm on Tuesday.

The family are requesting no flowers but donations to The Brain Tumour Charity instead.

People may donate as little or as much as they would like. To donate visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/beckybest