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Young woman's tragic death just before she was due to marry

A young woman has lost her battle with cancer just a day before she was due to be married.

Laura Barry, 25, from Limerick, Ireland was due to marry Ben Hamilton on Saturday but died on Friday, The Racing Post reported. She was a former apprentice jockey.

Ms Barry was diagnosed with a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour in March 2016.

The tumour is a type of cancer, which occurs in the lining of the nerves that extend from the spinal cord, according to Mayo Clinic. It led to severe pain in her leg and foot.

Laura Barry (bottom) died from cancer just before she was due to marry. She’s pictured with her friend Gemma Tutty pushing her in a wheelchair. Source: Twitter/ Gemma Tutty
Laura Barry (bottom) died from cancer just before she was due to marry. She’s pictured with her friend Gemma Tutty pushing her in a wheelchair. Source: Twitter/ Gemma Tutty

The 25-year-old then developed a second tumour in November 2016 and a month later, after undergoing surgery, she was left paralysed from the hip down.

The cancer then spread to other organs.

Gemma Tutty, who started a GoFundMe page for Ms Barry’s cancer treatments and used to ride with her, said Ms Barry was “tremendously brave and fought tenaciously right until the end”.

“We made memories together that will last a lifetime and I’m so grateful that racing brought us together,” Ms Tutty said.

“I couldn’t be prouder to call her my best friend.”

Richard Fahey, for whom the woman used to ride, said Ms Barry was “a wonderful person”.

“She passed away with dignity,” he said.

“She was a super girl.”