Who is Sarah Harding and what has the Girls Aloud star said about her cancer diagnosis?
SARAH HARDING rose to fame and fortune as part of global superstar pop group Girls Aloud.
After they disbanded, the Berkshire native continued in the entertainment industry through modelling and TV appearances – but 2020 saw her take a turn for the worse after revealing she is battling breast cancer.
Who is Sarah Harding?
Sarah Harding is a singer and actor who found fame in legendary pop band Girls Aloud.
She sang alongside Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh, but the group split in 2013, just a year after they reunited for their ten year anniversary.
She has also had roles in St Trinian’s in 2007 and BBC television film Freefall.
In 2011 Sarah went to rehab for depression, alcohol addiction and prescription drug abuse.
She also appeared briefly in Coronation Street in 2015 for a few episodes playing Joni – the wife of returning character Robert Preston.
Sarah has made guest appearances on TV shows such as Tumble, Celebrity MasterChef, Dating in the Dark and Celebrity Juice.
Away from the screens, she has also modelled including for Ultimo lingerie.
How old is she?
Sarah is 39 and was born on November 17, 1981, in Ascot, Berkshire.
She studied hair and beauty at Stockport college.
Sarah entered FHM’s High Street Honeys in 2002, a national beauty contest run by the magazine.
What has she said about her breast cancer diagnosis?
On August 26, 2020, Sarah made the heartbreaking revelation on Twitter that she has breast cancer and it has advanced to other parts of her body.
She posted a photo of herself from her hospital bed and said she is “fighting as hard as I possibly can” as she shared the shocking news.
She tweeted: “Hi everyone, I hope you are all keeping safe and well during these uncertain times.
“I’ve not posted on here for so long, thank you to everyone who has reached out to check in on me, it really does mean a lot.
“I feel now is the right time to share what’s been going on.
“There’s no easy way to say this and actually it doesn’t even feel real writing this, but here goes.
“Earlier this year I was diagnosed with breast cancer and a couple of weeks ago I received the devastating news that the cancer has advanced to other parts of my body.
“I’m currently undergoing weekly chemotherapy sessions and I am fighting as hard as I possibly can.”
In March 2021, The Sun revealed that she held off getting checked out due to the coronavirus pandemic.
A friend of the Girls Aloud star said: “Sarah held back from speaking to her doctors about how much pain she was in because of the pandemic and because she was scared.
“Sarah is now living with advanced cancer and has been undergoing chemotherapy.
“Along with telling her life story, Sarah wanted to use her book Hear Me Out to urge her fans not to wait to speak to their GP under any circumstances. She doesn’t want anyone to make that mistake.”
The Sun also exclusively revealed how the former Girls Aloud singer almost died of sepsis and spent two weeks in a coma, after having a port fitted into her chest.
Speaking in her book Hear Me Out, Sarah revealed: “With both my lungs and kidneys failing, doctors decided to put me into an induced coma.”
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What have the other members of Girls Aloud said?
Sarah’s Girls Aloud bandmates expressed their love and support online upon hearing the news.
Nadine, 35, wrote: “I love you!!!! You have always been able to achieve miracles when needed!! I am here for the all the way & always will be!!!”
Cheryl, 37, shared a broken heart emoji in response to Sarah’s heartbreaking revelation.