LONDON -- A charity shop in England put a call out on Facebook Wednesday to try and track down a man who anonymously donated his wife's wedding dress with a poignant, handwritten note.
The ivory dress with a lace peplum, netted skirt and flower detail was handed into a branch of St Gemma's Hospice Charity Shop in Leeds, and it was the short note that accompanied the dress that caught the attention of the shop's staff.
"I wish any lady who takes this dress to have a life with her loved one, 56 years like I did, happy years. I was a lucky man to marry a lady like mine," the handwritten note says.
The mystery man was discovered on Thursday morning. While he told the shop he wanted to remain anonymous, he said he was "overwhelmed" with the attention his late wife's dress has generated.
Describing the donor as a "true gent" the charity thought the man might live locally and wanted to find him so they could thank him for donating it to them.
The Facebook post has had a lot of reaction from locals. One person commented that "it's an absolutely stunning dress, and the letter that came with it is beautiful." Another, meanwhile, said: "Just lovely ... guaranteed tears."
The dress, which is described as being in great condition and in a 1950s style, has been put up for sale on eBay to generate funds for the charity, which supports a hospice that cares for people with cancer.