A terminally ill mum of two who has been a life-long Take That fan has had her dream to see them one last time come true.
Tina Potts, from Wicklow, has been given a 30% chance of surviving until Christmas as she is bravely fighting ovarian cancer.
The 40-year-old, who is now confined to a wheelchair, had bought standing tickets for next week’s concerts prior to becoming so unwell but found out the disability section in the 3Arena was full.
Thanks to her friend Laura Ryan, whom she met while standing in a queue to see the band on RTE’s Late Late Show decades ago, her devastation about not being able to go to the gig has turned to excitement.
Ms Ryan launched a Twitter campaign in a bid to raise awareness to what was happening to her friend in the hope band members, their management, or officials from the Dublin venue would step in to help.
A delighted Ms Ryan explained: “MCD emailed me after someone working with them saw the campaign.
“Now they are swapping her standing tickets for wheelchair accessible ones and put her on their guest list. I’m so happy for Tina.”
Tina’s husband Johnny Harris added: “I’m delighted. It’ll be the last time she gets to see them but hopefully it’ll be the most memorable. Thank you so much.”
Tina, who has been urging women to get themselves checked for peace of mind, tweeted before she found out the good news: “Please, please can you guys help me meet Take That.
Terminally-ill Wicklow bride makes emotional appeal to women over ovarian cancer symptoms
“I’m out of time to make this childhood dream happen as ovarian cancer sucks.”
Johnny posted: “My wife has tickets to both Dublin gigs but is now in a wheelchair with terminal ovarian cancer and can’t change [her standing] tickets to disability section as they’re full. She’s a huge fan.”
Cancer awareness advocate Vicky Phelan also rowed in to help, calling on concert and venue management to do their best to find a solution.
Carmel Collins, mother of murder victim Roy Collins, laid to rest in her native Limerick
Tina had been promising Johnny for 13 years she would marry him and they did on Daffodil Day last month, after learning of her devastating diagnosis.
Due to phenomenal demand, a second date was added to Take That’s performance at the 3Arena.
The band are playing on Monday and Tuesday as part of their Greatest Hits Live tour.
