Courageous cancer campaigner hails prince after he makes her a Dame
Podcast host Deborah James has praised the Duke of Cambridge for “going above and beyond to make a very special memory” after he made her a dame at her family home.
The 40-year-old, known online as Bowel Babe, was honoured for her tireless campaigning to raise awareness of bowel cancer.
Yesterday she posted pictures of William with herself and her family on Instagram and has said the visit gave her family “so much to smile about in the sadness”.
In a post on Instagram, she said: “I believe I may have had the most surreal, mind-blowing, humbling five days of my life.”
“I may be getting weaker and more tired each tired having run off pure adrenaline but, my word, I always said I wanted to slide in sideways when my time is up, with a massive smile, no regrets and a big glass of champagne! Still my intention!!!”
She has raised more than £5.7 million for Cancer Research UK through her Bowel-babe fund on Just Giving after setting her original target at £250,000.
The presenter of popular BBC podcast You, Me And The Big C disclosed on Monday that she had moved to hospice-at-home care to treat her terminal bowel cancer.
On Thursday night, Number 10 confirmed that James was to be made a dame, saying: “The Queen has been pleased to approve that the honour of damehood be conferred upon Deborah James.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “If ever an honour was richly deserved, this is it.
“Deborah has been an inspiration and her honesty, warmth and courage has been a source of strength to so many people.”