GENEROUS Daily Echo readers have clubbed together to ensure cancer sufferer Darren Mount-ford has the day of his life when he marries sweetheart Kerrie Rowe two weeks today.

You have donated money and gifts worth hundreds of pounds so the Southampton couple can wed in style.

A grand total of around £2,000 has now been notched up in donations.

Father-of-two Darren, who celebrated his 27th birthday this week, was struck down with cancer 18 months ago and had a tumour removed from his groin.

Courses of chemotherapy followed and the lorry driver believed he could be in the clear.

However, his marriage to fiance Kerrie, 32, had to be cancelled at the last minute in May when Darren went into hospital for an urgent liver operation.

Surgeons removed 40 per cent of his liver and the rest is riddled with tumours.

He faces either a liver transplant or further debilitating chemotherapy, which has serious side effects.

Darren is unable to work, so the couple cannot afford to plan another wedding.

However, fellow drivers Taylor Barnard, John Ashley, Knut Dahl and Pat Murphy have other ideas. They're devoting every spare minute to organising the marriage, set for August 18.

All Darren and Kerrie, and their daughters Chloe, three, and Natasha, ten months, have to do is turn up.

In the week since the Daily Echo told Hampshire of Darren's story, pledges of help and hundreds of pounds have flooded in.

Totton and Calmore Community Centre has been offered free of charge for the reception.

A horse and carriage will carry the couple there from their register office ceremony.

Asda have provided a case of champagne and Safeway has given money for food.

When Darren went to be fitted for his suit, staff said they would waive the charge.

And when their secret luxury honeymoon destination read about him, the manager immediately pledged to extend their stay - at no charge.

Darren, of Mardale Walk, Millbrook, said he has been overwhelmed by the response.

"It's just brilliant," he said.

Knut Dahl said their collection had just received a boost of £750 raised at Totton and Eling Carnival.

He added: "I can't believe how generous everyone has been."

John Ashley has issued a plea for the lady who offered Kerrie a wedding dress to call back after he wiped her number off his mobile phone by mistake.