BAND OF SISTERS 'WE'RE PLANNING AN EVENT TO HONOUR SARAH THIS YEAR'

NADINE COYLE TALKS ABOUT LOSING HER FRIEND AND GIRLS ALOUD'S PLAN TO REUNITE TO REMEMBER HER

- RHIANNA BENSON

It's hard to believe it's been almost 20 years since Girls Aloud formed on TV talent contest Popstars: The Rivals. And while the chart-topping band haven't performed since their 2013 split, Nadine Coyle tells OK! that's all about to change.

When we catch up with the Irish star - while she's getting a colour and cut in the hairdresser's – she candidly reveals the girls plan to celebrate this year's big anniversary in memory of their late friend and bandmate, Sarah Harding.

"We're planning a night for an event to raise money in honour of Sarah," Nadine, 36, exclusively tells OK!. "She's very much in the forefront of our minds. We want to raise money for a piece of medical equipment that helps diagnose cancer earlier so people can be treated. We definitely want to do something to help others.

Sarah was 39 when she passed away in September last year after a brave battle with breast cancer, just over a year after she revealed she had been diagnosed with the disease.

And the devastating loss continues to have a huge impact on them all.

"When she became unwell, a lot of my energy became focused on her," Nadine says. "There were suddenly so many things happening that were more important than anything else. It was a time to be around loved ones and support them. Her passing has just been so devastating."

Speaking on behalf of her former bandmates - Cheryl Tweedy, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh - Nadine adds, "[Sarah's passing] still affects us deeply, to think about everything that she went through."

She tells us they're also hoping to reunite away from the stage, now that the majority of them are mums. "Obviously, Cheryl has Bear and Kimberley has got her three little ones - Bobby, Cole and Nate - and we were planning on getting all of the babies together a while back but never got round to it," she says.