Sara Payne has paid touching tribute to her late daughter today, in a rare TV media appearance.
Loose Women viewers praised the mother as she chatted to the ITV show panel about her new book, Letters to Sarah.
Sarah Payne was just eight years old when she was abducted by Roy Whiting, while playing in the cornfields near her grandparents’ house, in 2000. Her brothers raised the alarm when they couldn’t find her, prompting a 17-day search for the little girl.
Tragically, Sarah’s body was found just over two weeks later. Police eventually arrested Whiting, who had previously been convicted for sexually assaulting a child.
Our heart is breaking for @DrSaraPayneMBE - what an incredibly brave woman.
— Loose Women (@loosewomen) July 14, 2017
'I fight every day not to be angry' pic.twitter.com/bJp6oxEPYs
In the wake of Sarah’s death, a grieving Sara mustered the strength to campaign for change. She was successful through the introduction of Sarah’s Law, through which people can find out if a member of their locality has a criminal record for child sexual offences.
Paying tribute to her late daughter, Sara read out part of a letter she wrote to her: “We have to remember there is always hope, and you are one of those hopes.
“She’s changed the world of child protection. What she’s done in her death…I wish she’d have had the chance to have that in her life.”
Opening up about the motivation behind her tireless campaigning, which earned her an MBE, Sara insisted that it was all about creating a legacy for her daughter.
PLS RT Letters to Sarah from @DrSaraPayneMBE, pre-order it here, sincere thanks, Sarax #LTS https://t.co/jhETeYSXDp pic.twitter.com/GPqDx3hbEl
— Dr Sara Payne MBE (@DrSaraPayneMBE) June 13, 2017
“It was really important to me that Sarah was remembered, and not him.”
Brave Sara also opened up about the excruciating 17 days following Sarah’s disappearance, and what went through her head as she waited for news about her daughter.
“I couldn’t breathe,” she recalled. “I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep. I was constantly trying to catch my breath.
“The more media we did, I thought, ‘If she could see me, she’s got to see the hurt, and come back.’”
Sara Payne is an amazing woman. I'm in absolute bits listening to her. #LooseWomen
— Sara Mason (@piglet2602) July 14, 2017
What a strong remarkable woman Sara Payne is @loosewomen
— NicolaG73 (@Nic7373) July 14, 2017
The strength and dignity of Sara Payne (mother of Sarah Payne) is incredible. #LooseWomen
— SinaiFleary (@S_Fleary1) July 14, 2017
Sara was praised for speaking so candidly about her experience, with viewers taking to Twitter to send messages of support and love her way.
“Watching Sara Payne on Loose Women just shows how cruel life can be. Yet she fights on. Amazing woman,” wrote one Twitter user.
Meanwhile, another added: “Sara Payne is an amazing woman. I’m in absolute bits listening to her.”
Keep up the amazing work, Sara.
