Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Treasured Rachael, you put the can in cancer... GIFT PLAN
BBC newsreader dies at 40
EMOTIONAL tributes have poured in for BBC newsreader Rachael Bland, who has died aged 40 after battling cancer.
The Radio 5 Live presenter, who also co-hosted You, Me and the Big C, passed away at 3am yesterday, her family confirmed.
Rachael had charted her illness through the podcast and a blog since being diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer in 2016.
5 Live tweeted:
“She inspired so many with her blogs, the charttopping podcast and certainly put the can in cancer. We will miss her dearly.”
Rachael’s death comes just two days after she revealed she had days to live.
She was wrapping gifts for son Freddie for each birthday until he is 21. He turns three shortly.
Yesterday a post on her Twitter account, signed by husband Steve and Freddie, said: “Our beautiful, courageous Rachael died peacefully this morning surrounded by her close family.
“We’re crushed but she would want me to thank everyone who took an interest in her story or sent messages of support.”
And husband Steve told the BBC: “We all take such huge comfort and pride from the amazing and tireless work she has done... to reduce the stigma around cancer and prove it is possible to live life to the fullest, even when facing huge challenges on a daily basis.
“At the end, even though her body was at its weakest, her voice was at its strongest.” Radio 2 broadcaster Zoe Ball tweeted: “She’s helped and will continue to help so many folk fighting cancer.”
Colleague and pal Tony Livesey said: “The closer to death she became, the determination she had to stick two fingers up to cancer was gloriously disproportionate to her state of health.”
Matt Hancock, Health Secretary, tweeted: “Her legacy is a testament to how much more we need to do to beat this disease.”
On Monday Rachael, who hosted her cancer podcast with Deborah James and Lauren Mahon, tweeted: “I’m told I’ve only got days. It’s very surreal.”