A CARING woman is using her wedding to help raise money for a friend who suffered severe brain damage from a nut allergy reaction.

In February of this year, Lindsey Bowers joked she would invite all 7,000 of her Twitter followers to her wedding if it went ahead in September – following a year-long pandemic-enforced postponement.

At the time the country was stuck indoors in the middle of the third national lockdown as infection rates soared. It was hard to believe any distant summer plans would come to fruition.

But with the vaccination programme clearing the way for restrictions to be eased, Lindsey, who grew up in Southend and now lives in London, is set to marry the love of her life, Mark, on September 18.

Playing on the joke she made earlier in the year, rather than invite her followers to the wedding, the 36-year-old TV producer and journalist has asked them to donate to a charitable trust close to her heart.

In April 2014 Lindsey’s dear friend Amy May Shead was left brain damaged, partially paralysed, and unable to see or speak properly after she suffered a severe allergic reaction during the meal at a restaurant in Budapest.

The pair had met working at ITV as producers and hit it off immediately.

Amy, who now lives with her parents in Westcliff, spent years in hospitals following the incident and now requires 24-hour care.

Her family have set up a trust to help pay for the care and Lindsey’s wedding has so far raised more than £2,000 for the cause.

“I felt quite apprehensive about doing it at first,” she explained. “I thought people might think I’m a bit cheeky asking strangers on the internet to donate but because it’s for such a good cause I decided to give it a go anyway and the response has been absolutely overwhelming and lovely. Amy’s story really does resonate with and touch a lot of people.

“Initially, I was just going to ask my wedding guests to donate. I haven’t actually sent the link out to them yet, so far most of the donation have been strangers from the internet which has been really moving.”

To donate, visit: https://events.amymaytrust.com/events/lindsey-and-marks-wedding/