SARAH JOINS SOAP STARS FOR CANCER CHARITY

There was a warm welcome in Manchester for Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York as she made a poignant trip to support an appeal and stopped at a very famous pub

-  REBECCA RUSSELL

Sarah, Duchess of York is one of those rarest of people. She has overcome constant adversity and unfair criticism while spending more than 35 years under the gruelling media spotlight. And yet she remains resolutely committed to the pillars of kindness and doing all she can to benefit others.

This determination was highlighted last week when the duchess travelled to Manchester to become patron of Prevent Breast Cancer, before taking a walk on the famous cobbles of Coronation Street - and OK! were lucky enough to accompany her.

The duchess got involved with the charity after chatting to actress Sally Dynevor backstage at Loose Women. Sally, who plays Sally Metcalfe in the longrunning soap, explained she was trying to secure the future of the National Breast Imaging Academy with a final fundraising push. And Sarah's reaction was immediate. "I had to help," she exclusively tells us.

"I told Sally, 'I'm coming to Manchester.' We'll get to work and help you raise the last £600,000. Every little bit helps and that's why everyone doing all this work here is so important. Fifty seven thousand people are diagnosed with breast cancer every year and I am very proud, and excited, to be part of the National Breast Imaging Academy."