SOAP PLOT ECHOES WIFE’S DEATH AFTER BIRTH The real-life baby tragedy that inspired Corrie Sinead

A DAD whose wife died shortly after childbirth is helping Coronation Street with their cancer in pregnancy storyline.

Pete Wallroth, 38, set up the charity Mummy’s Star in memory of Mair, who died just weeks after giving birth to their son.

He launched the project after discovering there were no organisations helping women who are diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy.

He was approached earlier this year to help get the Sinead Tinker plot right.

He has met Sinead actress Katie McGlynn, 25, and is due to meet her on-screen husbandto-be Rob Mallard, 26, who plays Ken Barlow’s son Daniel Osbourne.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Star Sunday, Pete praised the popular ITV soap for tackling the issue.

He is hoping the storyline will help raise awareness because many cancer symptoms in pregnancy are missed.

Pete said: “Mair was four-andhalf months pregnant when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.”

Mair was treated part-way through her pregnancy and after the birth of their son Merlin she started treatment again. But she died 10 weeks later. Pete added: “It was only then I discovered there weren’t any organisations for mums who get diagnosed with cancer when pregnant.

“They feel really isolated because they are pregnant, and in a lot of cases they are among the youngest people being treated on the cancer ward.

“It’s also about the challenges they face by not being able to be the parent they envisaged.

“They’re shattered from treatment, not able to physically participate and of course it stops the enjoyment of the pregnancy.”

Pete runs Mummy’s Star full time with four members of staff.

The charity has been working with Corrie for a number of months.

He said: “Myself and one of the mums we support at Mummy’s Star sat down with Katie and talked through the kind of experiences I saw my wife go through and what the lady had been through, her worries and her fears.

“As a husband I was able to talk about my experience, which will impact further down the line when I meet up with Rob.

“I’m so pleased Corrie decided to cover this issue because it’s still a bit of a taboo subject.

“They’ve involved us every step of the way. I can’t praise them enough for what they’re doing with Sinead’s story.”

You can learn more about Pete’s work at mummysstar.org.