A special fundraising event to celebrate the life and legacy of Sarah Harding is being held in her hometown of Stockport next month.
The late singer – who was one fifth of one of the UK’s most successful girlbands, Girls Aloud, before she sadly lost her life to breast cancer at just 39-years-oldback in September 2021 – grew up in the Greater Manchester borough of Stockport, and attended high school and college there, as well as working several jobs, all before she auditioned for Pop Stars: The Rivals in 2002.
Greater Manchester was already a big part of Sarah’s life, but following her breast cancer diagnosis in 2020, it became even more important, as she was treated at The Christie hospital in Manchester.
Her final wish before she sadly passed was to find new ways of detecting breast cancer early when it is more treatable.
The BCAN-RAY (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment in Younger Women) study was then launched in her legacy, and is supported by Sarah’s family, friends, and Girls Aloud bandmates, as well as Dr Sacha Howell – who was Sarah’s consultant at The Christie.
ADVERTISEMENT
A Sarah Harding commemorative plaque is being unveiled at special fundraising event in Stockport next month / Credit: The Christie (via Supplied)
But now, to go one step further in honouring Sarah’s life and music legacy, a special plaque will be unveiled on High Street, close to the Little Underbank in Stockport, next month, and the grand unveiling will be part of the new ‘Stockport Music Map Tour’, created and hosted by John Barratt, who is renowned for his work promoting Stockport’s rich musical heritage.
The tour will start at midday outside Thread Bar on Market Street, with an introduction by John, who’ll walk everyone to the site of the plaque – which will be located next to the Sarah Harding mural, created earlier this year by street artist Degsy on the side of the former Royal Oak on 11 High Street.
ADVERTISEMENT
Then, following the plaque unveiling, John will conduct a Stockport Music Map walking tour around the sites of other commemorative plaques and significant locations that have played a pivotal role in Stockport’s vibrant music history.
Those on the tour will get to remember Sarah’s formative years in Stockport, before she went on to achieve global success with Girls Aloud.
Funds will be donated to both The Christie Charity and the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal / Credit: The Christie NHS Foundation Trust
A Girls Aloud-themed party will then take place after the tour at Thread Bar, as well as showing screenings of the band’s performances, and 20% of the bar’s takings on the day are to be donated to both The Christie Charity and the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Sarah was such a huge part of Stockport’s story, and her journey from here to the global stage is truly inspiring,” event organiser, John Barrett, commented.
“We’re honoured to celebrate her legacy while supporting The Christie Charity, and the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal. This event is all about fundraising for The Christie Charity, keeping Sarah Harding’s memory alive here in Stockport, and continuing her mission to promote early detection of breast cancer in young women.”
John is hoping that the event can be made into an annual occasion, if it proves to be successful this year.
The Sarah Harding Plaque Unveiling and Walking Tour will take place in Stockport on Sunday 6 October.
Tickets for the event are £15 each, which includes a Christie wristband and pin badge, the plaque unveiling, guided music tour, and entry to Thread for the party, and you can grab yourself some here.
ADVERTISEMENT
Any further donations to The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal can be made here.
Featured Image – The Christie (via Supplied)
News
Wayne Rooney expresses interest in joining Manchester United’s coaching staff
Danny Jones
In another unexpected twist in the Manchester United manager saga, club and England legend Wayne Rooney has expressed interest in returning to Old Trafford and potentially joining their coaching staff.
Man United’s all-time leading goalscorer is one of half a dozen different former players to have been linked with either the top job or a backroom role following Ruben Amorim’s departure.
Speaking on his self-titled BBC podcast, the retired Premier League icon turned coach and now pundit, didn’t hesitate when asked about the prospect, simply replying: “of course I would” – dubbing the decision as “a no-brainer.”
"Of course I would!"
Wayne Rooney wouldn't think twice about joining Michael Carrick's staff at Manchester United if an offer arrived. pic.twitter.com/nGEAugQjHH
Rooney’s last coaching job was that of Plymouth Argyle manager, which ended in December 2024 following a run of poor results, much like his time at Birmingham City earlier that year.
Since then, he’s bounced around between punditry and broadcasting, serving as a guest on the likes of The Overlap with his old teammates and peers, as well as now co-hosting his own aforementioned pod, The Wayne Rooney Show.
However, the 40-year-old has always insisted that he still wants a future in coaching, and while it may not have worked as a full-time first-team boss just yet, perhaps more of an assistant position or more specific post (maybe training the forwards as Benni McCarthy did) could be a better fit for now.
‘Wazza’ admitted that, even despite having been on holiday with Carrick “last week”, no one could have expected this situation to have emerged, and certainly not this quick a turnaround.
Moreover, Rooney insisted that rather than preferring any particular person for the next interim head coach/United manager or to join the wider staff, he simply believes that they need “people who know the club” inside and out.
He isn’t the first to have accused the global sporting franchise of losing its ‘identity’ in the years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, and many seem to believe that getting in familiar faces who were at the club during its heyday could help resolve that issue.
This was obviously pretty much the thinking when Ole Gunnar Solskjær not only became interim head coach but got the job on a permanent basis after they began looking more like the confident, attacking teams of old and like they were enjoying their football again. Though we all know how it ended.
Solskjær did look to be leading the race to return to Old Trafford for a second spell as manager initially, but it now looks as though Michael Carrick is the odds-on favourite to replace Amorim in the interim, with the suggestion that one might still assist the other.
Carrick certainly received a good amount of praise during his time at Middlesbrough, and while his time there didn’t end perfectly, either – parting ways after missing out on the playoff spots once again – there seems to be a belief that he, whether flanked by others or not, is the right choice for United at this time.
Once again, there is talk of current temporary caretaker Darren Fletcher remaining with the first team in some capacity rather than simply returning straight to the under-18s, but only time will tell who will be involved. Nevertheless, it now looks nailed on that Carrick will be in the dugout for the derby day.
Police appeal for information after ‘attempted kidnapping’ in Wigan
Emily Sergeant
A public appeal for information has been issued after the attempted kidnapping of a female in Wigan last week.
Officers from Greater Manchester Police‘s (GMP) Criminal Investigation Department are appealing for information and witnesses following the shocking incident, which occurred last Friday morning (9 January 2026) between 6:05am-6:20am.
The victim was walking along Central Park Way, in Wigan, when she was grabbed and threatened by a man who attempted to force her to come with him.
The victim managed to get free and to a place of safety, however the suspect fled the area.
The suspect is described by police as being a white male, approximately 6ft 1in tall, and was wearing grey joggers, black trainers, a yellow hi-vis vest, and a black beanie hat at the time of the incident.
#APPEAL | Officers are appealing for information following a reported attempt kidnapping on Friday 9 January between 6:05-6:20am on Central Park Way, #Wigan.
The victim was grabbed and threatened and the suspect attempted to force her with him.
Officers are supporting the victim and investigating the incident, but at this time are now appealing to the public for information.
“Whilst we understand incidents of this nature are concerning, I want to reassure our communities that we take reports of this nature very seriously and the safety of the public is our top priority,” commented Detective Sergeant Andrew Partington, of GMP’s Wigan CID, as he appealed to the public.
“Our officers are taking every measure and following multiple lines of enquiry to investigate the circumstances of this incident.
“We have extra patrols in place around the area and if you have any concerns, our officers are always more than happy to support.”
Can you help? Anyone with any information is urged to come forward.
This includes anyone who may have CCTV / dashcam footage, witnessed the incident itself, or can help police identify the man involved, and you can contact GMP on 0161 856 7094, quoting log 472 of 09/01/26.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Emily Sergeant -
18th September 2024 
