The late Sarah Harding's Girls Aloud bandmates are set to reunite for a fundraising event in her memory, Nadine Coyle has confirmed. Sarah tragically passed away on September 5, 2021 at the age of 39 after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020.
Girls Aloud stars Nadine Coyle, Cheryl Cole, Kimberley Walsh, and Nicola Roberts will be taking to the stage again in memory of their beloved friend in a bid to raise money for life-saving medical equipment which detects cancer sooner. Nadine told OK! Magazine that the band members always have Sarah in their thoughts.
She said: "She’s very much in the forefront of our minds. We want to raise money for a piece of medical equipment that helps diagnose cancer earlier so people can be treated. We definitely want to do something to help others."
Read more: Sarah Harding's poignant final wish revealed as friends pay tribute to the 'pop music icon'
After Sarah was diagnosed with breast cancer, she became the main focus of a lot of her loved one's lives. Nadine said: "When she became unwell, a lot of my energy became focused on her.
"There were suddenly so many things happening that were more important than anything else. It was a time to be around loved ones and support them. Her passing has just been so devastating."
Of course, Nadine is not the only Girls Aloud member to be devastated by the passing of her friend. Speaking on behalf of Cheryl, Kimberley and Nicola, Nadine added: "[Sarah’s passing] still affects us deeply, to think about everything that she went through."
Sarah's death was announced by her mother, Marie via Instagram in September. Paying tribute to her 'bright, shining star' of a daughter, Marie said: "It’s with deep heartbreak that today I’m sharing the news that my beautiful daughter Sarah has sadly passed away.
"Many of you will know of Sarah’s battle with cancer and that she fought so strongly from her diagnosis until her last day. She slipped away peacefully this morning.
"I’d like to thank everyone for their kind support over the past year. It meant the world to Sarah and it gave her great strength and comfort to know she was loved. I know she won’t want to be remembered for her fight against this terrible disease – she was a bright shining star and I hope that’s how she can be remembered instead."
The singer and former Celebrity Big Brother contestant first found lumps under her arm back in December 2019, but put off getting medical advice initially. In her autobiography published in March last year, 'Hear Me Out', Sarah revealed that she was eventually advised by a doctor to have an MRI scan, but then 'coronavirus hit and everything either went into slow motion or stopped altogether'.
Sarah was informed by a doctor in December 2020 that the upcoming Christmas would probably be her last. Comfort and being pain-free were her priorities; she did not want an exact prognosis.
She said: "One day I woke up realising that I'd been in denial about the whole thing. Yes, there was a lockdown, yes, there was a pandemic, but it was almost as if I'd been using that as an excuse not to face up to the fact that something was very wrong."
The devastating news of Sarah's death broke the hearts of many, with lots of celebrities, friends and fans of Sarah paying tribute to the popstar. She rocketed to fame after being selected to join Girls Aloud on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, and was known as the group's party girl.
Geri Horner - former Spice Girl and a judge on Popstars: The Rivals - Tweeted after her death: "Rest in peace, Sarah Harding. You'll be remembered for the light and joy you brought to the world."
Meanwhile, Louis Walsh, who was also a judge on Popstars and helped form Girls Aloud, told The Irish Mirror: "Sarah was the life and soul of Girls Aloud. She was always fun and she was the fun in Girls Aloud. She loved life and music and it’s so sad. I was hoping she was getting better.
"In the early days of Girls Aloud, when they came to Dublin she loved the Pod and Lillies and we would be the last to leave. She was a great girl. It’s just really unfair that she’s gone so young."
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