Surrounded by her family, proud Sharon  Heazle beams with joy on her wedding day.

But the ceremony by a waterfall in New Zealand was tinged with sadness – because the mother of five has terminal cancer and doctors say she may have just months to live.

Sharon's wedding to Mark, 32, was part of a 20,000 dream trip with her son and four daughters, which also took in Hong Kong, LA and Walt Disney World in Florida for Christmas.

They paid for the holiday with their savings, funds from selling belongings on eBay and help from loved ones.

Sharon, 42, a former assistant director of a housing association, said: “It was the most magical day, the happiest moment of my life. We've created a memory my family will cherish forever.

“It is a massive deal for us and very expensive. We even used the kids' savings we'd set aside for university or a first car. But I'm convinced it's worth it.

“The cancer is a permanent cloud over my head. But at least I've got the opportunity to show my family how much I love them. It was important to Mark that we get married so we decided to pool together every cent.”

In March Sharon was  diagnosed with neuro endocrine tumours (NET), the same cancer that killed Apple boss Steve Jobs.

She and Mark wed in front of a waterfall at the Centennial Gardens in Napier two weeks ago. She wore a strapless ivory gown and older girls Ellie, 16, Keira, 15, and Georgia, 13, were in teal blue dresses. Mark and Albie, four, wore matching cream suits, while youngest Orla, three, looked adorable in a mini version of her sisters' dresses.

Sharon, of Norwich, added: “Mark and I said our vows promising to be supportive through all that lies ahead. We pledged to be there for our children.

“I surprised Mark with a reading about my love for him, which brought him to tears. It  expressed my gratitude for all he's done for me and the kids.”

The family celebrated with dinner joined by Mark's parents and a few relatives and friends. “We wanted to keep it low key so we had money left for the rest of the trip,” said Sharon. “But it could not have been better.”

Sharon was previously  married to the father of her three oldest daughters but they split in 2005 after 10 years. Mark asked her out when she was  working as a manager at Melton Mowbray Council in Leicestershire, where he was also on staff. She said: “I thought he was cute, but never in my wildest dreams did I think anything would happen as he is 10 years younger than me.

“My girlfriends would tease me about my toy boy and I would say they were just jealous. In the end, Mark turned out to be the man of my dreams.”

He moved in with Sharon in 2007 and proposed in Rome that November – the day before she found out she was  pregnant.

Sharon said: “It was really sweet. He got a ring out in the Sistine Chapel. You're not even supposed to speak in there.”

She fell pregnant with Orla two months after giving birth to Albie, delaying their  wedding plans further.

In autumn 2010, her health deteriorated. She said: “I started feeling  emotional. By November I had put on three stone. I developed  facial hair and my knees were so bad that I had to crawl up the stairs.”

Doctors discovered tumours in her liver and in March she was told they were cancerous. In August more were found, as well as the primary one in her bowel.
Sharon said: “I was shocked. It was like being punched in the face. There is no cure. All they can do is monitor the cancer and manage any pain.”

Mark said: “Sharon's illness has turned my world upside down. It is difficult not to despair at the unfairness of it all – seeing the woman you love in pain, physically and emotionally, and I just try my best to make her life as happy as possible.”

When the family return to the UK, Sharon plans to raise funds for the charity iCancer – set up in honour of Jobs – to improve NET treatment. She paid tribute to Mark, who has taken on two part-time jobs to bring in cash.

“He has taken on so much. He's only 32 and now he's got five kids and a wife with cancer.

“I've thought about what will happen when I'm gone, and I'm sure Mark will find someone. I can't stand the thought of it, but I want him to be happy.”