'Sarah Harding saved my life - my kids still have a mum because of her legacy'

The Girls Aloud singer encouraged young women across the nation to check their breasts before she tragically died, aged 39, in September 2021. Now, more than two years after her passing, Sarah's legacy continues to save lives.

A groundbreaking project established in her memory is fulfilling her dying wish to detect signs of breast cancer earlier. The BCAN-RAY (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment in Younger Women) study is one of the world's first research studies to find new ways to protect against the risk of younger women getting the disease.

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Breast cancer survivor Lucy Morgan, 39, says the project is 'massively important' for future disease prevention. The mum-of-two credits Sarah with saving her life by going public and sharing her breast cancer journey.

When the popstar announced her terminal diagnosis, in March 2021, Girls Aloud fan Lucy immediately went to check her own breasts and, to her surprise, "felt a small, hard lump straight away". Lucy told the Mirror: "The only reason I checked myself was because of Sarah."

Following a biopsy, the dental nurse was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer in her right breast and believes it would have developed into Stage 4, had it not been for the Love Machine singer raising awareness. "It was still absolutely earth-shattering. I felt far too young," Lucy, who is married to builder Rob, 40, said.

Admitting that she feared she might not see her daughter, Eva, then 13, and son, Charlie, 10, grow up, Lucy added: "It was really frightening. I started planning my funeral in my head. I thought that was it for me."

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In December 2021, Lucy had a lumpectomy to remove the 3cm tumour, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as having her ovaries removed. Given the all-clear a year after diagnosis, she still has eight years of hormone replacement therapy to come.

But she is eternally grateful to Sarah for prompting her to check her breasts and welcomes the BCAN-RAY study. She said: "It is massively important. There needs to be more awareness of breast cancer in younger women. The youngest girl in our cancer group was 24, so I think risk assessments for women younger than 30 would be even better."

Sharing a heartfelt statement to the Girls Aloud star, Lucy added: "Thank you, Sarah, for telling your story and raising awareness for younger women. I thought I was invincible and your diagnosis made me get checked and potentially saved my life."

Lucy isn't the only woman grateful for the star. Mum-of-two Anna Housley discovered she has a higher-than-average chance of developing breast cancer thanks to taking part in the BCAN-RAY study last year. The physiotherapist is the same age as Sarah was when she died, but feels she now has a bright future.

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Anna says she is "one of the lucky few" as she is now eligible for yearly mammograms, so any changes will be detected early. She hopes to be here to see her children, Lilian, seven, and Maddi, five, grow up.

"Nobody wants to be told they are at increased risk of developing cancer, so it was a bit of a shock," Anna, 39, of Hale, south Manchester, said. "But I was also very thankful that I had been identified because if I hadn't been part of this study, I would have never known."

Married to Tom, 39, a global communications boss, Anna said: "I wanted to be part of this research so that we can improve diagnosis and treatment for future generations, and if my participation in this study can help with advancing this research, then that's a really great thing."

Anna is hopeful that her daughters and generations to come will benefit from the research. Sharing her touching message for Sarah, Anna told the Mirror: "Thank you, Sarah, for being such a brave advocate for young women.

"Without your fearless determination, screening studies such as this would not exist and I would never know I was at increased risk of developing breast cancer. My hope is that your legacy can live on and continue to grow so that by the time my children are in their 30s, screening programmes such as this are a standard part of NHS care."

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Researchers are hopeful their findings will enable all women to have a risk assessment for breast cancer when they reach the age of 30, with those found to be at increased risk able to have access to early screening and opportunities for prevention.

Before she died, Sarah said: "Research is incredibly important in the fight against cancer. Although this research may not be in time to help me, this project is incredibly close to my heart as it may help women like me in the future."

Study leader Dr Sacha Howell, who was Sarah's consultant at The Christie Hospital in Manchester, said: "The BCAN-RAY study is Sarah's legacy and the first study of its kind for young women, which is helping us find out how we can more accurately identify those who may develop breast cancer."

Led by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the project has recruited 363 women aged between 30 and 39. They complete a breast cancer risk factor questionnaire, provide a saliva sample, and have a low-dose mammogram to measure their breast tissue density.

Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, said: "Sarah's dying wish was to help women like her. Through the power of cutting-edge science and research, we are starting to fulfil that wish and bring forward the day where all women can live free from the fear of breast cancer."

• Anyone wishing to donate to The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal can do so on the charity website.

Do you have a story to share? Get in touch. Email nia.dalton@reachplc.com.