The BBC reported sad news tonight. Kerry McGregor, a contestant in the third series of The X Factor in the UK, has died of bladder cancer at the age of 37.
A spokesperson said: "It is with deep sadness we announce that Kerry passed away at home, earlier today, following a battle with cancer."
Wheelchair User
During the programme, Kerry was mentored by Sharon Osbourne. She went out in the third week of the live finals. The series, which took place in 2006, was won by Leona Lewis.
Kerry performed on the show in a wheelchair, which she used as a result of an accident at the age of 13 in which she fell out of a tree, broke her back and became paralysed incompletely from the waist down.
Charity Work
She had worked with several charities, including Leonard Cheshire Disability and Action For Bladder Cancer.
Colin Bunce, Chair of Action for Bladder Cancer said: "She was a truly inspirational person and we were delighted when, before Christmas, she accepted our invitation to become an Ambassador for Action on Bladder Cancer".
Kerry's spokesman said the singer was rehearsing and recording until as recently as last month and was due to perform a duet with Susan Boyle this year.
Career Highlights and Education
Her official website says that she began her singing career performing with bands including Nexus, a dance band which she formed in 1993, and QFX before appearing on the BBC television show to select the UK´s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, in which she came second behind Katrina and the Waves.
As well as singing, Kerry was an actress and played Carol-Ann on the hit Channel 4 series The Book Group.She also appeared in school drama series Grange Hill and was well known as a motivational speaker.
The website also says that after her accident as a teenager, Kerry was told that she would need to attend a special school to complete her education. Both she and her mother fought hard against this and Kerry fitted six years worth of physiotherapy into just two weeks. She was allowed to remain at the school, and that year they nominated her for the Child of Achievement Award. She won it and described this as her "proudest moment."
She lived in West Lothian, near Edinburgh, where she was born and grew up, with her partner and young son.
Sarah Ismail - Sarah Ismail is a physically disabled journalist and blogger. She edits her personal blog, Same Difference, which covers all kinds of ...
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