Jilted bride who travelled the world is to sell her wedding dress – and it’s all for a good cause
A bride who travelled the world after her big day was called off is selling her wedding dress to raise funds for the families of two murdered British backpackers.
Katy Colins, 31, a former Manchester Airport press officer, has put her unworn gown up for sale on eBay to raise cash for the families of fellow travellers Mia Ayliffe-Chung and Tom Jackson.
Mia, 21, from Buxton, died after being stabbed in a knife attack in an Australian hostel and Tom, 30, from Congleton, Cheshire, died a hero trying to save her.
Traveller Katy says she wanted to do something to support the grieving families and decided to sell off the dress she’s been keeping hold of for the last three years.
The ivory fishtail wedding dress has been auctioned on eBay under the heading ‘Jilted wedding dress seeks happy-ever-after’.
Writing on her travel blog , she wrote: “Trying on wedding dresses and realising that you’ve found ‘the one’ is pretty indescribable.
“It was the most special item of clothing I’d ever bought and was the dress that would be in framed photographs dotted around our house for years to come.
“Only before I knew it, it wasn’t. The day that I was supposed to be feeling like a million dollars as I walked down the aisle wearing my dress, I was actually in a bikini on a beach in Turkey as my best friend whisked me away for what would have been my big day.
“After my wedding was called off, sorting out what to do with the dress was added to the long list of things I needed to cancel and sort out.
“That list was mostly taken care of by my mum and best friend, so I didn’t have to see the beautiful beads, the vintage inspired brooch or feel the fabric between my fingers. I couldn’t bear to look at it, so it was placed in its protective bag and put in the wardrobe. As with most things in life; once it was out of sight, it was out of mind.
“I got on with starting my new single life. I grabbed my passport, jumped on a flight to Thailand and the dress slipped from my thoughts as I got on with creating new adventures, fulfilling dreams and making new memories. The rest, as you know, is history.”
Katy, , originally from Formby, Merseyside, quit her job in PR at Manchester Airport after being jilted, sold her belongings and set about travelling the globe. On what would have been her third wedding anniversary, she secured a new book deal with Harper Collins for her series The Lonely Hearts Travel Club.
The dress listing, written from the dress’s perspective, reads: “I’ve been patiently hanging in a wardrobe for more than three years after my big day was called off at the last minute.
“And instead of it being my chance to shine, I’ve been packed away ever since; a sad reminder of what could have been.
“Now my owner wants to give me a new lease of life and the attention I crave – and in the process raise money for the families of two British backpackers tragically murdered in Australia.”
It continues: “Both Mia and Tom were a lot like my owner, who discovered her own love for travelling after swapping weddings for wanderlust. They all shared a passion for exploring the world.
“I may be a reminder to my owner of broken promises but I am confident I can fulfil someone else’s dreams. Every woman deserves that special moment, and I still think I’m capable of delivering it.
“So, please, bid for me and help raise money for the families of Mia Ayliffe-Chung and Tom Jackson – the auction ends on Wednesday, September 14. Save the date and say ‘I do’.”
Katy, who has been dubbed the ‘Backpacking Bridget Jones’ since her story of self-discovery went viral in January, said she felt compelled to help the families of Mr Jackson and Ms Ayliffe-Chung.
She said: “I just kept thinking that it could have been me staying in that hostel, I could have hung out with people like heroic Tom and made friends with Mia. Knowing what it’s like to travel and spend time with other backpackers I just knew I wanted to do something to raise money for their grieving families.
“As a fellow backpacker my heart has broken for them and this is something small that I can do to try and help”.
Money raised will be split equally between the two families.
[Source:-MANCHESTAR eVENING NEWS]
