GIRLS Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh has posted a heartbreaking tribute to her late bandmate Sarah Harding on the one-year anniversary of her death.
Girls Aloud vocalist Sarah was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in August 2020 and underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy in a bid to prolong her life.

Kimberley Walsh has paid tribute to Girls Aloud bandmate Sarah Harding on the one-year anniversary of her death[/caption]

Sarah, far left, passed away last September after a battle with breast cancer[/caption]
Yet she sadly lost her battle in September 2021 at the age of 39, barely a year after she was diagnosed.
On a day filled with sadness, Kimberley, 40, took to her Instagram page to write: “Sarah passed away a year ago. I can still hardly believe it to be honest but it feels more real than ever today.
“Thinking of her always and of everyone who loved and miss her too .”
Love Machine singer Kimberley then posted a black and white image of Sarah onto her Stories, with a broken-heart Emoji and the words: “One year.”
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She then re-posted a touching comment from a fan, with the caption: “Messages like this.”
The post read: “Because of Sarah, my sister went to get her boobs checked.
“She had cancer. She’s possibly alive now because Sarah’s death was so public.
“She had chemotherapy and radiotherapy and was caught really early. Eternally grateful.”
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Girls Aloud reunited this year for the first time in nine years as they completed the Race For Life walk in honour of Sarah.
Girls Aloud are also going to reunite on stage for a one-off gig in memory of their late bandmate.
The group, formed on Popstars: The Rivals in 2002, had planned a reunion tour to celebrate their 20th anniversary, which was scrapped after Sarah’s death.
Sarah’s mum Marie last year confirmed the heartbreaking news of her daughter’s death – saying her “shining star” had “slipped away” after bravely fighting the disease for 12 months.
At the time, she wrote: “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.- Marie x”.
Sarah had bravely spoken out about her diagnosis, releasing a book called Hear Me Out which documented her life as a pop star and chronicled her fight with cancer.
In the book, Sarah wrote about reuniting with her Girls Aloud bandmates Cheryl Tweedy, Kimberley Walsh and Nadine Coyle and said they had become close again.
She also spoke candidly about her experience of living with cancer and told how she had almost died following a battle with sepsis while in hospital.
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At the time she wrote: “I’m just grateful to wake up every day and live my best life, because now I know just how precious it is . . . nothing is certain any more.”
Sarah had thought chemotherapy was working until the secondary tumour destroyed her hopes.

The popstar was 39 at the time of her death[/caption]


The singer said the anniversary of Sarah’s passing made things feel ‘more real than ever’[/caption]