THEY promised to love each other in sickness and in health.

And just weeks after their wedding, young couple Deborah and Neale Kinnear were having their pledge tested.

Deborah went from her perfect wedding day to a fight for her life as she was diagnosed with breast cancer weeks after returning from honeymoon.

She was 30 when she spotted the signs of cancer and all her newly wed plans were replaced by hospital visits then treatment to beat the disease.

Deborah, now 36, said: “The day I was first told I had cancer I remember asking the doctor, ‘Am I going to die?'

“He answered, ‘You might’, which wasn’t exactly the answer I had been expecting. It was a frightening time.

"Having cancer has made me appreciate how fragile life is, how your health and happiness can be snatched away in an instant."

Dr Deborah Kinnear, who is a chartered psychologist at Glasgow University, recalls vividly the joy of her wedding day on September 8, 2012.

Around 200 guests attended the ceremony in a church in North Berwick, where she wed Neale, 37.

Deborah had been going to the gym three or four times a week to get ready for the big day so hadn’t given much thought to feeling a tired during wedding preparations.

She said: “The sun shone on our wedding day and it was just perfect in every single way.

“All the special people in our lives who we loved were there to celebrate with us and I kept stopping just to pinch myself and take everything in.

"My sister was bridesmaid and my husband’s best friend Ghazi flew over from New Zealand to be best man.

"Neale and I were fixing up a month long trip to New Zealand later that year so stayed on in North Berwick for a few honeymoon days together.

"Neale and I had been living and working down south in England but wanted to come home to live in Scotland permanently. It was the start of our married life.

"There were so many adventures out there.

"Cancer was the last thing on our minds but the words we’d promised on our wedding day to look after each other in sickness and in health were to be tested to the max.”

It was a shock only two weeks after the wedding day when Deborah discovered a lump in her left breast.

She visited her GP who referred her to hospital for tests.

On November 5, 2012, it was confirmed that Deborah had breast cancer.

She was booked in to Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital in London for mastectomy surgery before Christmas then travelled back to Scotland to spend Christmas Day with her family in East Kilbride.

A total of 15 sessions of radiotherapy followed then Deborah, who had been diagnosed with HER2 positive breast cancer, began taking the drug Herceptin.

Deborah said: “All my friends knew how much I loved having blonde hair.

“When I was little I actually had nightmares about my hair falling out so it was a big issue for me.

"When my hair started to fall out as a side effect of chemotherapy then Neale helped me shave it off.

"There was nothing for it but just to embrace it, to accept my hair was gone but that it would grow back.

"We were newly weds but Neale became my carer over these months.

"He gets a gold medal for everything he did as he never once complained.”

And Deborah had one date in mind to keep her going.

With a wheelchair pushed along beside her in case she got too tired, Deborah took part in Race for Life Glasgow 2013, only days after completing chemotherapy treatment.

Her team of family and friends were called “Big Toe”- an affectionate nickname Deborah had been called since her days at primary school.

Today Deborah is cancer free and is backing Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

She will stand shoulder to shoulder with her mum Margaret Cairns, 63, and her sister Nicola McKay, 38, to take part in the Race for Life 5K at Glasgow Green on Sunday, May 20.

Deborah added: "There were tears [when I told her I had cancer] but my mum has been an absolute star every step of the way.

"Mum being mum, she dropped everything, jumped in the car and drove with dad to be with me. A hug from mum and dad in those early days meant the world.

"I know I’m lucky to have such amazing parents.

"As a family, we’re determined to do all that we can to help raise money for life-saving research so more men, women and children can survive cancer.

"I can’t wait to step up to the start line this spring and help make a real difference in the fight against the disease.”

Deborah and Neale finally got their month-long trip to New Zealand in October 2013 then moved to Scotland permanently in December that year, setting up home with their border terrier dog, Martha.

And Deborah, who recently reached the milestone of being clear of cancer for five years, has wise words for anyone today facing the disease.

She said: “Cancer is tough at the start but you’ll get through it.

"Don’t be afraid to get help from your friends and family. I am so lucky to have an amazing support network around me and love them all.

"And afterwards, try not to stress about the silly things in life. If you’re not happy in a job, leave it.

"If you want to go on that fabulous holiday, go for it. Just do it and love every single moment.”

Many women will be taking part in Race for Life with their mums while others will be participating to honour their memory.

Deborah’s mum, Margaret Cairns, said: “I’m so grateful for the treatment that helped my daughter Deborah and I’m so proud to sign up to Race for Life.

“We’ve put a team up every year since Deborah completed treatment for cancer and have raised more than £15,000 in that time.

"By coming together, we can all do our bit to help beat cancer sooner.”

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is a women-only series of 5k, 10k, Pretty Muddy, half marathon and hiking events which raise millions of pounds every year to help beat cancer by funding crucial research.

Scotland’s first Race for Life 5K of the year kicks off in Stirling and South Queensferry on May 13, closely followed by Race for Life Glasgow 5K and 10K on Sunday, May 20 at Glasgow Green.

Lisa Adams, Cancer Research UK’s spokeswoman in Scotland, said: “We are very grateful to Deborah and all her family for their support.

“Taking part in Race for Life is a special and unique experience - full of emotion, courage, tears and laughter.

"By joining like-minded ladies committed to the cause, women can unite against a disease that affects us all in some way. Whether they plan to pound the pavements or amble to the finish line, every step participants take will help to support crucial research.”