Community Helps Attleboro Man Battling Cancer Plan Dream Wedding
ATTLEBORO (CBS) - It's a love story in the face of a devastating illness. An Attleboro couple is planning their dream wedding while they still have time. The groom to be has been battling pancreatic cancer for more than a year. The community is coming together to help Bill marry the love of his life on Saturday, but they may need your help, too.
"Anxious, nervous, excited," says Brenda Beauregard, the soon to be bride. "Worried about standing up," says Bill Chubbuck, the groom.
That's because Bill is very sick. Still, they're getting ready for their wedding on a boat in Boston Harbor on Saturday night. "It's going to be beautiful. It's going to be absolutely beautiful," Bill says.
Bill's cancer came roaring back to life last February. "It had come back on my liver, and at that point I was given 11 months," he says. But he didn't quit. "Just keep pushing. What's next," he says.
Bill started a new round of intense chemotherapy. "And that kicked my butt. Fatigue, nausea, not being able to eat," he says.
Through it all, Bill and Brenda said nothing would stop them from marrying. "You don't give up, and have faith," Brenda says.
But they didn't have the money for an elaborate wedding. That's when family and friends started a GoFundMe page. Nearly 100 people have donated close to $8000.
"There are no words to describe how grateful we are," says Brenda. Even with that help they've still had to take a loan and rely on credit cards. "We're just going to have this wedding, and I really want to get back to fighting this," Bill says.
Despite long odds, Bill thinks it just might work. "I'm starting to think I'm going to stick around for a while, and my oncologist said I'm starting to think that, too," says Bill.
Bill has taken a short break from chemo so he isn't wiped out for his wedding. He'll pick that up again five days later. So the honeymoon will have to wait.
If you'd like to learn more, or help the couple visit: http://www.gofundme.com/ndos20
Brenda and Bill's Dream Wedding: https://www.facebook.com/Brendaandbillsdreamwedding