Boy, 8, ‘marries’ friend the day before he dies of leukaemia

A MOTHER yesterday described how her son, aged 8, “married” his friend the day before he died of leukaemia.

Given only weeks to live, Reece Fleming proposed to his “special friend” Ellie Pursglove, 8, at a party.

After she accepted, their parents organised a special ceremony at Reece’s family home in Mackworth, Derby, for the couple to tie the knot. He died the next day with his family.

Reece was diagnosed with leukaemia in July 2004, aged four.

He battled the disease for four years until May when doctors told him he only had weeks to live.

Mum-of-three Lorraine Fleming said when her son was only given a short time to live, she and his stepfather Mick Thompson, also 28, had tried to help him do as much as possible.

“When we found out that we only had a few weeks with him we tried to do absolutely everything with him that we could,” she said.

“We also had a football and laser quest party, apparently that’s when he proposed to her.”

She said she and Ellie’s mum had even taken the young couple out to dinner in the mayor’s limousine — Reece wearing a tuxedo and Ellie in a prom dress.

She said Ellie agreed to Reece’s proposal via text message and the families organised a wedding, complete with rings, pastor and limousine.

At his funeral on Tuesday, a horse-drawn hearse was followed by people on foot.