Kimberley Walsh has voiced her hopes that the late Sarah Harding will see the upcoming Girls Aloud charity walk “in some form” following her death from breast cancer last year.
The 40-year-old singer will be raising funds for Cancer Research UK next month when she joins forces with former bandmates Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Cheryl to honor her friend with a Race For Life For Sarah 5k event, to be held at the London Hyde Park takes place.
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, she also spoke about how Sarah’s death has encouraged many of her friends to self-examine and discover their own health issues.
‘We couldn’t make this for her when she was alive’: Kimberley Walsh (right) has revealed her hopes for Sarah Harding (left) to see the Girls Aloud charity walk ‘in some form’ – following her death from breast cancer
The walk takes place in London’s Hyde Park on July 24, with the girls encouraging fans to join the team and be part of a special tribute to Sarah.
Kimberley said: “I think she would absolutely love the idea of everyone coming together for her and having that special moment because I think we sadly missed that.
“We were never able to create that for her while she was here and I would have loved it if she had seen that for myself, but hopefully she will shape it or shape it in some way.
“It’s definitely going to be a very emotional moment, but she would absolutely love to remember that everyone comes together for her.”
Good cause: The singer, 40, will reunite with her Girls Aloud bandmates next month for a Cancer Research UK fundraising campaign to honor her friend (LR: Kimberley, Nicola Roberts, Sarah, Cheryl and Nadine Coyle in the year 2012)
The Can’t Speak French hitmakers previously claimed they would be launching the special 5k event in line with a “poignant and specific wish” Sarah made before her death to raise money for breast cancer research.
Kimberley explained, “We’ve obviously talked a lot with Sarah about what she would like to do for us.
“And I know she was very passionate about raising money, and specifically for a particular area of research that she was passionate about.
“But we never talked about the race for life, so that would be new to her.”
Friends: Speaking to MailOnline, she also opened up about how Sarah’s death has encouraged her friends to self-examine and discover their own health issues (pictured in 2009)
Sarah rose to fame in 2002 when she won a spot on Popstars: The Rivals with the band and soon after took Britain by storm.
She “slipped away peacefully” in September 2021 after “struggling so hard from her diagnosis to her last day,” her mother Marie wrote on Instagram at the time.
Kimberley said: “I think it’s definitely having an impact on all of us. I know a lot of friends that I speak to, it’s had a massive impact on them and people I know, it’s actually made them check themselves and realize they were struggling too.
“The other thing she really wanted was to spread the word. She was so young, at 39, that it’s not to be expected, but it spares no one.
Charity: The walk takes place in London’s Hyde Park on July 24, with the girls encouraging fans to join the team and be part of a special tribute to Sarah
“Well, if it can only get a lot more women and men to check themselves regularly, then she’s accomplished something with that alone.”
Cheryl, Nadine and Nicola will be competing themselves in Hyde Park, but others who don’t make it – like Kimberley – are invited to join a Race For Life At Home For Sarah on the same day or at a more convenient time.
The Bradford native will be on a pre-booked holiday abroad for her mother Diane’s 70th birthday but has vowed to FaceTime her fellow BRIT Award winners while she attends virtually.
She said: “Yes I’m away with my mum because it’s her 70th birthday so unfortunately it’s just bad timing but I’ll be racing with family members and I’ll FaceTime the girls from where I am and I will.” Races drive the same time.
Pop stars: Meanwhile, Girls Aloud are planning more fundraisers in 2022, which will culminate in a huge gala dinner over the next few months, more details to come (pictured 2013)
“I mean, I’m sad not to be there, but I also think it’s going to be so emotional. If we were all there together, it might just be too much for everyone.”
The event begins at 11:30am with the girls encouraging fans to join the team and be part of a special tribute to Sarah.
Meanwhile, Girls Aloud are planning more fundraisers for 2022, culminating in a grand gala dinner over the next few months. More details will follow shortly.
The announcement comes after the band confirmed plans to reunite for just one night as part of a fundraiser in Sarah’s memory.
Kimberley has teamed up with DIY retailer Wickes to launch its Community Programs competition, offering a community organization a chance to win £10,000.
She said: “Participation is really easy, you just go to the site, type in a few sentences about why you need the money and what you would do to improve your community space and then hopefully you’re in the running to £ to win 10,000.
“So it’s really a great way to bring communities back together, I think, and if you improve the spaces, people want to go there more, right?”
Wickes is offering a community organization a chance to win £10,000. Join at www.wickes.co.uk/community-programme. The competition ends on July 13th.
DIY: Kimberley has teamed up with Wickes to launch their Community Program competition, offering a community organization a chance to win £10,000