Wills and Kate in tribute to Deborah the ‘inspiration’

THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge yesterday led tributes to the ‘inspirational’ Dame Deborah James, who has died aged 40.

The cancer campaigner, known as Bowelbabe, died surrounded by her family yesterday, weeks after revealing she was receiving end-of-life care for stage-four bowel cancer.

In a personal signed message on Twitter, the royal couple wrote: ‘We are so sad to hear the heartbreaking news about Dame Deborah. Our thoughts are with her children, her family and her loved ones.

‘Deborah was an inspirational and unfalteringly brave woman whose legacy will live on. W & C.’

Prince William presented the campaigner with her damehood at her parents’ home last month.

Boris Johnson also paid tribute to Dame Deborah, as he attended the Nato summit in Madrid.

The Prime Minister said: ‘I remember reading about her ages ago, just being incredibly moved by her account of her suffering but how it had actually driven her to do so much to raise awareness about bowel cancer and to motivate people to give and try to find a cure for this appalling disease, and I think she was an absolute inspiration.’

Lorraine Kelly fought back tears as she paid tribute on her ITV show yesterday, wearing a Rebellious Hope T-Shirt from Dame Deborah’s In The Style fundraising range. ‘ We knew this was going to happen, but it still doesn’t seem quite real,’ she said.

Dame Deborah was a regular on the show and teamed up with Miss Kelly to launch the #NoButts bowel cancer awareness campaign.

Sir Keir Starmer said her death was ‘deeply sad’, adding: ‘Dame Deborah James’s charity work was truly inspirational — even in the most challenging moments, she continued to raise awareness about bowel cancer and impacted so many people’s lives.’

BBC News presenter George Alagiah, diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer in 2014, said Dame Deborah was ‘a beacon, lighting the way for all of us #livingwithcancer’.

Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts, who this week revealed she is now free of bowel cancer, said she will be ‘forever grateful’ to Dame Deborah for raising awareness.

Dame Deborah — a former deputy head teacher and mother to Hugo, 14, and 12-year- old Eloise with her husband Sebastien Bowen — was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer in 2016. She became known as Bowelbabe after sharing her experiences on social media.

She set up the Bowelbabe Fund to raise awareness and fund clinical trials for bowel cancer patients. Last night the fund topped £7million.

‘Unfalteringly brave... her legacy will live on’