Exclusive:
Love Island star Luke Mabbott reveals his sister-in-law’s cancer diagnosis forced him to push fiance Lucie Donlan to constantly check herself over fear the same could happen to her
As a popular contestant on Love Island, Luke Mabbott’s main goal after leaving the villa was to make the most of his new-found fame. And then he found love with Lucie Donlan.
The pair’s relationship clearly stood the test of time as the couple announced their engagement in 2021 during a romantic holiday to Iceland. But the 28 year old reality TV star’s world has now turned upside down after he was told that his sister-in-law Jodie was diagnosed with the early stages of breast cancer.
And while he maintains Jodie has been “an absolute trooper” despite enduring chemotherapy treatment to beat the disease, it seems the news has sparked a fear in him to make sure another loved one does not suffer the same fate. And this explains why he has been urging his fiance Lucie to keep on top of her checks in a bid to avoid missing a crucial change in her body.
During an exclusive chat with The Mirror, ahead of embarking on the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for Breast Cancer Now, he admits it’s so important to keep on top of his health and the health of those close to him. When asked how the news of his sister-in-law has impacted his life, he said it has made him seriously think and fear for those around him.
He said: “When you have a scare like this, it really does make you think about people close around you. Any little thing, you’re kind of like ‘just get it checked’. Worst comes to the worst, they’ll say it’s nothing to worry about. But it is so important.” He added: “Yeah I do say to Lucie and my mam, like, just go and get checked and see. We can just go together, its not a big deal. You’re best off getting it checked and make it more a priority.”
Luke says the beauty of his flourishing relationship with Lucie is that they are incredibly open with one another. He added: “Me and Lucie are very similar like that, we communicate very good. So if there’s any little thing we’ll get it checked. There’s no filter around it. We’re not embarrassed to do anything. At the end of the day it’s your body, you want to be as healthy as possible.” Understandably, Luke said his brother Liam has struggled with his wife’s news. But claims the entire family are supporting each other as they are incredibly close knit.
He continued: “My brother’s almost taken it worst, it’s to the point we’re getting into the rhythm of it and we’re all backing each other. We’re all a real tight family, so the support is there. It’s always one of those things that you think will never happen. When she kind of like told us, it was a really big shock and I think its the unknown then as well, seeing the doctors and stuff like that. And you go through stages of like ‘is it really really bad’. So yes it was a really big surprise for all of us. But we’re so tight knit she’s got that support base there. We’re always shoulders to cry on and support her.”
Luke is set to embark on a gruelling challenge hiking up three mountains including Ben Nevis, which is the highest mountain in Scotland on May 10. They then move on to he highest mountain in England and Wales. To donate click the link https://www.gofundme.com/f/breast-cancer-3-peaks-in-24hr.
If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Breast Cancer Support.
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