Sarah Harding’s mother Marie gave an emotional speech as she unveiled a plaque to commemorate the Girls Aloud singer’s life in her hometown of Stockport on Sunday.
The tribute to Sarah, who tragically died aged 39 in 2021 after battling breast cancer, was revealed alongside a stunning pink mural of the late singer.
The plaque, which was unveiled after a fundraising walk, aims to mark the legacy of Sarah’s life, which is helping to save the lives of young women.
Before her death, the Girls Aloud star set up a charity to fund ways to detect breast cancer early, when it is most treatable.
In an emotional speech to the assembled crowd, Marie said: ‘Sarah faced her devastating diagnosis with great courage and determination.
Sarah Harding’s mother Marie gave an emotional speech as she unveiled a plaque to commemorate the Girls Aloud singer’s life in her hometown of Stockport on Sunday.
Sarah tragically died at age 39 in 2021 after battling breast cancer; photographed with her mother in 2008
“Throughout her illness, she spent a lot of time at Christie Hospital being treated and cared for by the dedicated doctors and nurses there and I am eternally grateful to them all for their selfless kindness and support.”
Marie added that Sarah would be “blown away” by the plaque and mural as her friends and family gathered for the unveiling.
An emotional Marie continued: ‘I am so proud of my beautiful daughter and all she achieved in her tragically short life.
“I would be delighted to see so many of you here today showing your love and support for her and for Sarah Harding’s breast cancer appeal.”
The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal has raised more than £1 million to date in its bid to help fund research into breast cancer diagnosis in younger women.
Girls Aloud reunited this year for their anniversary tour and honored Sarah at each show.
Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts remembered Sarah, who was diagnosed with cancer in August 2020 and died a year later, playing footage of her singing one of her biggest hits, The Promise, alone as the girls watched. in.
Speaking to MailOnline, Kimberley described paying tribute to Sarah as “cathartic” after the group also performed the late singer’s vocals during their track I’ll Stand By You.
The tribute to Sarah, which was unveiled after a fundraising walk, was revealed alongside a stunning pink mural of the late singer.
The plaque commemorates the legacy of Sarah’s life, which is helping to save the lives of young women. Before her death, Sarah set up a charity to fund ways to detect breast cancer early, when it is most treatable.
Girls Aloud, who found fame in 2002 on Popstars: The Rivals, reunited this year for their anniversary tour and honored Sarah at each show; Pictured by LR Kimberley Walsh, Nadine Coyle, Cheryl, Sarah Harding and Nicola Roberts in 2005.
Kimberley said: “Honoring Sarah was quite cathartic, it really was, as difficult as the first part was, the planning; The rehearsals without her were painful.
“But then to see her honored and her voice ring out again in the arena and the love of the people, to see how happy she made her mother and everything, it made us feel really incredible.”
Meanwhile, Cheryl revealed she misses the ‘electric, wild side’ of her Girls Aloud bandmate Sarah following her death from breast cancer.
Speaking in a two-hour special program for Radio 2, Cheryl said: “There are little moments you would share with her individually on stage during the tour.
“Where there’s no more Sarah than there was at that moment and I can’t describe…like no one else knew her that way other than the four of us.”