A TERMINALLY ill mother of four fulfilled one of her dying wishes to ride a horse along Weymouth beach thanks to a heartfelt community effort via social media.

Nicky Stedman, 49 from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and had chemotherapy and radiotherapy for six weeks.

But she was later told the cancer had returned and was also diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer. In January 2014, Nicky faced the devastating news that her treatment was not working and she had just 18 months to live.

Her husband Nick, 52, knew that riding a horse along the seafront was one of Nicky's lifelong wishes so he set up a Facebook appeal for help to make that wish a reality.

And after seeing the appeal, Gemma Spearing from Portland offered Nicky's family free weekend accommodation and use of one of her horses.

Nicky fulfilled her lifelong wish Sunday morning at 11am surrounded by her friends and family.

She told the Echo: “A massive thank you must go to everyone who helped make this come true, including Lynn Maxwell and Jo-ann Ostridge.

“Thank you also to Nathan Cooper from our local radio station Mix 96, who arranged the minibus to get us down to Weymouth.

“I've been overwhelmed by the community support of Weymouth and Portland.

“Nick and I spent our honeymoon down in Weymouth and come for regular holidays here, so the area was already special to us but this has made it even more so.

“I was a horse rider when younger but until now hadn't ridden for 10 years.”

Nicky's family and friends were offered free accommodation at Weymouth's Anchor House hotel, owned by the charity Livability, thanks to the hotel's caretaker Gemma Spearing.

Gemma told the Echo that it was a case of doing whatever she could to help Nicky achieve her wish.

She added: “I saw the Facebook appeal and knew I had the means to help; everybody should help others if they can.

“I rang up my boss and he agreed that Nicky's family could stay, and I thought my 13-year-old horse Adam would be a great fit for Nicky.”

Nick and Nicky, parents to David, Jemma, Megan and Poppy, were also given a free voucher for a trip up Weymouth Sea Life Tower.

Nicky's 19-year-old daughter Jemma said it was 'heart touching' to see her mum achieve one of her dreams and it will be something she will always remember.