Cheryl pays tribute to ‘stunning, unique, kind and soft hearted’ Sarah Harding

Cheryl has posted a heartfelt tribute to her friend and former bandmate Sarah Harding a day on from her tragic death.

The thirty-nine year old singer, who shot to fame as part of the pop group Girls Aloud died from breast cancer yesterday. Her mum confirmed the news in a statement posted to Sarah’s social media accounts, noting that her daughter had ‘fought so strongly from her diagnosis until her last day.’

The statement read: “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.”

@sarahnicoleharding / Instagram

And now, her former band mate and friend Cheryl has spoken out about the tragic loss.

Taking to Instagram, the former X Factor judge began: “Although we knew this day would arrive I am somehow still feeling at a loss for words that our stunning, unique, crazy, quirky, kind and soft hearted girl has departed.

“As I try to navigate my way through these painfully strange and horribly unfamiliar waves of disbelief & finality I am experiencing, I wanted to extend my condolences to all of our GA fans.

“We were like an extended family for so long and we know so many of you by name. I wanted to make sure you knew just how much your love and continued support meant to Sarah through her most vulnerable times.”

@cherylofficial / Instagram

Cheryl added that Sarah had been ‘so grateful’ for the support she received during her treatment, and that fans had ‘really lifted her spirits when she needed you most’.

She ended her statement with a final message to her friend, writing: “I love you Sarah… farewell. Sarah Nicole Harding forever in our hearts.”

Sarah had undergone gruelling treatment to beat the cancer, including a mastectomy and intensive chemotherapy since first being diagnosed in summer 2020.

In one of her last health updates in August last year, Sarah had written on Instagram: “My amazing mum, family and close friends are helping me through this, and I want to say a thank you to the wonderful NHS doctors and nurses who have been and continue to be heroes. I am doing my very best to keep positive.”