Girls Aloud run Race For Life in memory of former bandmate Sarah Harding

Girls Aloud members took part in the 5km run Race For Life on Sunday, in memory of former bandmate Sarah Harding who died last year from breast cancer.

Cheryl, Nadine Coyle and Nicola Roberts took part in the Cancer Research UK event in Hyde Park, while Kimberly Walsh took part remotely.

“It doesn’t feel like she’s gone at all,” said Cheryl at the event, of Ms Harding who died, aged 39, last September - a year after revealing she had breast cancer which had spread.

"You feel so helpless, you've never felt hopelessness like it, it's horrendous.”

Sarah Harding - In pictures

She added: “I’ve never experienced or anticipated this grief. I lost grandparents and I lost a friend when I was younger but nothing like this, the feeling of shock and disbelief and it still lingers now to be honest. I still can’t quite believe it’s real.”

Ms Harding documented her battle with cancer in her 2021 autobiography Hear Me Out in which she encouraged others to seek help if they felt concerned.

Ms Coyle told reporters: “This time last year we were actually hanging out. We all met up last year. She was there and we were talking and she didn’t even seem that sick.

“I was in denial the entire time and was the friend that was ‘Oh, it’s gonna be all right’, you know, I was completely in denial right up until the day she passed.”

The group were among thousands to take part in Race For Life, an annual event which raises money for Cancer Research UK.

In 2019, the formerly all-female event was opened up to include men for the first time, while a 10km run option was added.