WHEN doctors told Trevor Thornley he had cancer he changed his life forever . . . by marrying his childhood sweetheart.

Trevor, aged 54, tied the knot with wife Lorraine six weeks after being diagnosed with bone cancer.

Mother-of-two Lorraine, aged 55, said: "We weren't going to get married until next year but when the cancer came along we just thought what the hell."

The Bolton couple were engaged at 17 but met new partners and began separate married lives.

Now more than 30 years on, they have re-kindled their romance and cemented their childhood vows, spurred on by Trevor's battle against Multiple Myeloma.

The condition is a life-threatening form of leukaemia. It is treatable but there is no cure and 50 per cent of sufferers die within five years.

And Trevor, a technical service engineer at Ramsbottom-based Voith Fabrics, has decided to do all he can to support the Christie Hospital's Adult Leukaemia Unit, where he is a patient.

He has raised £500 in a sponsored head shave.

Residents from Weavers Court Sheltered Housing Scheme in Rothwell Street, Bolton, where Lorraine is scheme manager, donated £300.

Trevor's work colleagues and drinkers at the Hen and Chickens pub in Deansgate raised £100 each.

Trevor said: "My hair was getting a bit thin from the chemotherapy and I knew it would all fall out anyway so I thought that I might as well cut it off for charity.

"These are the people who are looking after me and I am sure they will be looking after many more people in the future. It is a very worthwhile and worthy cause.

"Until you have been to Christie's you don't quite realise just how many people have cancer. Staff do an excellent job."

The couple met up again and realised their feelings for each other after bumping into each other at the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Father-of-one Trevor was diagnosed with the condition in April. They married at Bolton Register Office in October.

Lorraine said: "He had been to South Africa and when he came home his eye appeared to be swollen. We went to a specialist and they did an MRI scan which showed a series of brain tumours.

"In two weeks and two days he had gone from double vision to bone cancer. We did not even have time to think about it. He is OK most days and he is determined never to give up. We thought we would raise around £100 but the residents here have done us proud."

Trevor is due to undergo a complex stem cell transplant within the next two weeks.

He added: "I have my off days but it is very important to stay confident and positive."