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Rio Ferdinand breaks down as he reveals what he would say to his wife if they had on more minute together

The former England football star has taken part of moving charity campaign

Rio Ferdinand has revealed what he would say to his late wife Rebecca, if they could have one more minute together, as part of a new charity campaign video.

The former England captain – who made a documentary to describe his devastating loss – is one of the famous faces taking part in the #onemoreminute campaign.

Celebrities including Rio, Mary Berry, Ben Fogle and Joey Essex are supporting the campaign run by Child Bereavement UK.

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Manchester United legend Rio lost his wife Rebecca in 2015 when she was just 34, following her battle with breast cancer.

The couple had three children together. Earlier this year, Rio took part in a documentary called Being Mum and Dad, where he met other widowers and admitted he had felt suicidal after Rebecca’s death.

As part of this campaign – which gets people to think about what they would say to their lost loved ones if they had one more minute together – Rio spoke about his wife.

“If I was able to have one more minute with Rebecca, I’d probably, well I’d definitely, ask her about what she wanted with the children growing up at different stages, poignant moments in their development,” he says.

“I’d tell her I love her.”

Then, as his voice cracks and he smiles but looks tearful, he simply adds: “There’s loads.”

Former Bake Off judge Mary Berry also appears in the campaign video, talking about her son William who died in a car accident when he was just 19 years old.

Mary, looking tearful and with her voice cracking, said: “I would thank him for being a brilliant son.”

Joey Essex speaks about losing his mother, and Ben Fogle and his wife Marina break down as they talk about their son who was stillborn.

Actor Jason Watkins, star of W1A and Line Of Duty, speaks movingly about losing his daughter Maude to sepsis when she was just two and a half years old.

“I would remind her of all the wonderful things that she’d given us and all the wonderful things we did,” he says.

“All the wonderful feelings she gave us, and the joy. That she won’t be forgotten. And that she’s handed on all her beauty to her sister and to us.

“And we’ll never forget her.”

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Child Bereavement UK’s chief executive, Ann Chalmers, told the Manchester Evening News: “The film touches on the longing that many bereaved families tell us they have, to be able to have more time with the person who has died.

“In our 23 years of experience of supporting children, young people and families, this is something that is commonly expressed and that many people will relate to.

“Child Bereavement UK deals with a subject that many people find too unbearable to contemplate, the untimely deaths of parents and children, but every year, child bereavement is experienced by thousands of families in the UK.”

The campaign video will be aired on Channel Five tonight at 8pm.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor