This might just be one of the most bizarre wedding ever.
Two hairless cats have recently and officially ‘tied the knot’ for a very heartbreaking reason.
It appears smitten kittens Christie and Lily were married in a pub beer garden in St Helens, Merseyside, at a ceremony with a difference.
Marialaine with her beloved cats (Image: Liverpool Echo)
Various drinkers watched the very unusual nuptials at The Windle pub and after some days of preparation the the ‘couple’ married to raise money for five-year-old Kaycee Turner who sadly and unfortunately suffers from a rare brain condition called Batten’s disease.
Owner Marialaina Ashcroft, who is well-known as a ‘crazy cat lady’, currently has a total of eight cats, arranged the event and even gave her beloved pets away on their big day.
Here’s the happy bride and groom (Image: Liverpool Echo)
Marialaina went on to explain to the Liverpool Echo : “Everyone in our community is aware of Kaycee’s condition and I just wanted to do something to help.”
She soon approached her local “pet friendly pub“ when she initially came up with the idea and they helped organize the whole thing to give the happy couple the wedding they deserve.
Marialaina with the bride and groom (Image: Liverpool Echo)
She then goes on to say, “My boyfriend and I would often take Christie to the pub with us and everyone adores him. He goes with me a lot of the time when I go out.”
Marialaine then also added: “I have two Sphynx and six moggys and I adore every single one of them.
The wedding was arranged to raise funds for a poorly little girl (Image: Liverpool Echo)
“Christie has the most character. He’s a naughty boy, he torments them all but he makes me laugh out loud every single day, he makes me so happy.”
“My two sphynx’s always get loads of attention when I take them out in their pram. I’m interested in photography and I’m always taking funny videos of them.”
Marialaina claims that her friends are always commenting on her love for her pets and have praised her for putting her own unique spin on traditional fundraising.
Marialaina is known as the ‘crazy cat lady’ (Image: Liverpool Echo)
The wedding was actually organized to support five-year-old Kaycee, who travels with her family every two weeks to Great Ormond Street Hospital in order that she can receive enzyme treatment that could prolong her life.
Marialaina adds: “I didn’t raise as much money as I had hope but the look on Kaycee’s face when she saw the cats dressed up was completely worth it all.
“I’m glad they brought her as much joy as they bring me.”
Christie looks delighted to be getting married (Image: Liverpool Echo)
Kaycee, who is from Sutton in St Helens, is no longer able to talk at all anymore due to the condition and is currently undergoing enzyme treatment at Great Ormond Street hospital which will, they hope, increase her life expectancy.
Her family is currently travelling to London each and every two weeks in order for her to receive her treatment and the community have come together to help the family afford the trips.
Marialaina adds, “The Windle pub graciously let me use their back garden to host tthe wedding and we had face painters there to turn everyone into cats for the day.
“I just wanted to do something fun and a little bit different for Kaycee. She’s a wonderful little girl and she deserves all the help in the world.”
Although Kaycee wasn’t able to be present for the entire day, she was able to make an appearance at the reception.
Marialaina concludes: “Her face was a picture and although we only raised *£100, it was worth it to see that smile when she walked in.
“I would like to keep doing stuff to help raise funds for the family so any weird or wonderful ideas would be appreciated.”
You may find the JustGiving page for Kaycee here.
*£100 is equal to approximately $128USD
Photo credits: Liverpool Echo │ h/t: www.mirror.co.uk
