Gloria Hunniford broke down in tears today remembering her beloved daughter, Caron Keating on Loose Women.
TV presenter Caron was just 41 when she lost her battle with cancer in 2004, and her mum Gloria was overcome with grief.
During a discussion based on the reports that Debbie McGee was taking part in Strictly to get some fun back in her life after losing her husband Paul Daniels, Gloria opened up about how she coped with her loss by throwing herself into the third series Strictly Come Dancing.
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But, she admitted, it took all her strength to get through it.
Trying to hold herself together, Gloria said: “I didn’t think I’d laugh or smile again. I was in such a black hole.
“It [Strictly] allowed me to laugh and have joy. Anything that takes your mind off grief helps. It allowed me to smile again.”
Viewers were moved by Gloria’s pain, especially people coping with their own grief. One said: “Sending love to Gloria, I know, I belong to that club too.”
“Now we are all a blubbering wreck,” said another.
“Very emotional. What a brave lady,” a third said.
Another viewer wrote: “I feel your pain. The loss of a child is different to any other loss that is why they don’t have a name for a parent who loses a child🎗#CCAM.”
It’s been thirteen years since Caron died.
She fought cancer for seven years after being diagnosed in her mid-thirties.
Naturally emotions are still raw for 77-year-old Gloria and her family. Caron left behind two sons, Charlie and Gabriel.
Last year, Gloria shed tears on Loose Women talking about the moment her daughter lost her hair during treatment.
She said: “My Caron also lost her hair. I can hardly say this without weeping because she had beautiful long hair, and to see that being cut to get ready for it.
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She added: “Her loss of hair…she would never let her little boys see her without the wig.”
Gloria decided to take inspiration from Caron’s passing, by setting up a charity, The Caron Keating Foundation with the aim of helping the fight against all types of cancer.
In an emotional letter to her daughter, Gloria wrote: “I miss talking to you everyday, you were the girl I loved talking to most in the world.
“The heartache of losing you will never be healed, but you have left us with millions of exquisite thoughts and memories.”