KIMBERLY WRIGHT PART OF WIS CONTEST, PUBLIC TO DETERMINE WINNER

Just two short weeks ago, Kimberly Wright and Cecil Bradstreet of Columbia were a newly-engaged couple planning for their future together and their wedding to come.

But then came news that changed their lives forever: 27-year-old Kimberly, a school teacher, had stage three colon cancer. She underwent surgery to remove the cancer Thursday.

Their wedding plans would have to be put on hold.

That was until Cecil secretly entered into the WIS-TV Holiday “Dream Wedding” contest. On Thursday, as Kimberly began her first of 16 chemotherapy treatments over the next 32 weeks, the couple were informed they were one of four finalists.

“I did this as a surprise for her so she wouldn’t have the stress of having to plan a wedding,” Cecil said on WIS Sunrise Friday. “I did this all behind her back so that her friends, her family and I can lift her up and help her get better.”

The public will chose the winner by voting on the WIS website, and the highest vote-getter earning a “Dream Wedding” in December at the Mitchell House and Gardens of Lexington. The winner will be announced on Aug. 10.

In their biography on the WIS website, Cecil, a SLED agent, explained how the couple fell in love:

We met at a Cinco de Mayo party in 2008. We both had become recently single and just wanted to explore life and to see where it took us. Our meeting started out as friendship or “drinking buddies,” but found ourselves talking all the time and things progressed into a relationship.

After being together for a year I decided that I wanted to ask her father for permission to marry her. Kimberly was taking an adult tap class and had a recital at the Township.

This was also the week of our 1 year anniversary. I decided to make it a week of surprises. The biggest one was that I flew her mother in from Little Rock Arkansas to see the recital. I told Kimberly that every daughter has to have her mother there to watch. What Kimberly didn’t know was the biggest surprise was coming.

I decided to get all the family together so they could spy on us while I proposed. My sister and I set up a blanket with candles, roses and a bottle of champagne at the Robert Mills House. We walked over to the grounds and I popped the question and of course she said yes.

You can help make Kimberly and Cecil’s “Dream Wedding” hopes a reality by clicking here and voting for Kimberly Wright and Cecil Bradstreet. Then, get your friends to vote too.