Couple Who Raised $200K for Charity at Wedding Get a Surprise Honeymoon

27-year-old Caleb Remington has spent his whole life battling cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic and life-threatening disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. He has to deal with infections and viruses, as well as taking over 60 pills per day – just to function. He also has to undergo chest therapy and breathing treatments both in the morning and at night. “It’s a pretty intense regimen for breathing treatments and chest therapy on top of taking pills just to maintain lung function. And that’s the biggest thing is, over time, the lung function decreases,” he said.

However, Remington chooses to take on the battle day-by-day, with his fiancée, 27-year-old Tiffany Au, by his side. “Where most people talk about what their favorite movies are or what they’re interested in or what they do in their leisure time, we were talking about the depths of life. She not only gets it, but she can meet me with compassion and empathy,” he said.

Au admitted that entering into a relationship with someone who has a fatal illness was rather frightening for her. “But then I thought, it’s far more worth it to spend 10 quality years filled with adventure, challenges and growth than 50 years of a stagnant flow. I was like, ‘I’m taking the plunge.’ It’s worth it,” she said.

Never having been a ‘normal couple’ Remington and Au decided to take their unique situation and turn it into something meaningful – using their wedding day as a call to action.

Changing the narrative - focusing on the village instead of the couple

Unlike traditional weddings, Remington and Au accepted no wedding gifts nor money to start the next chapter of their lives together – only funds for charity. They launched a website called GWED – The Greatest Wedding Ever Donated – where others could read about them and learn about the different charities they were donating money to. Donations were also made possible directly through their site.

GWED aimed to turn the couple’s wedding day into a fundraising gala and benefit concert, designed to raise $500,000. The funds would be split evenly between five different organizations:

• Wayfarer Foundation – A nonprofit organization that supports charitable programs inspired by Wayfarer Entertainment
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation - A nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with CF and to finding a cure
• Think Together – A nonprofit organization dedicated to offering extended learning programs for low-income and underprivileged children
• Global Genes – A nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to helping individuals and families fighting rare and genetic diseases
• To Write Love on Her Arms – A non-profit movement dedicated to providing hope and help to individuals struggling with addiction, depression, self-injury and suicide.

Read on to learn more about this unique and inspirational experience.

Photo: www.madelinebarr.com