Terminally-ill Dame’s thanks to Duke for ‘special memory’
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.
Dame Deborah 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 cannot thank you for your generosity at launching the @bowelbabefund which now stands at £5.7 million, and to the @dukeandduchessofcambridge for going above and beyond to make a very special memory happen yesterday. Can’t quite believe im actually a Dame!
“My family are being amazing and as emotional as it all is, we are finding so much to smile about in the sadness.
“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!!!”
Dame Deborah has raised more than £5.7 million for Cancer Research UK through her Bowelbabe Fund on JustGiving.
Having set her original target at £250,000, she has now raised more than 22 times her goal.
Dame Deborah reached the £5 million milestone on Friday after donations from more than 240,000 supporters, including
Prince William and his wife Catherine.
Her JustGiving page said it is “raising money to fund clinical trials and research into personalised medicine for cancer patients and supporting campaigns to raise awareness of bowel cancer”.
She said she was “completely lost for words” after reaching the phenomenal amount.
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly responded to the news, saying: “This is just wonderful – tears and laughter – love you @bowelbabe.”
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.
She wrote on Instagram: “Nobody knows how long I’ve got left but I’m not able to walk, I’m sleeping most of the days, and most things I took for granted are pipe dreams.
“I know we have left no stone unturned. But even with all the innovative cancer drugs in the world or some magic new breakthrough, my body just can’t continue any more.”
Dame Deborah, a former headteacher, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 and has kept her 500,000-plus Instagram followers up to date with her treatments.
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.”
In a personal tweet written by William and Catherine this week, they said: “Every now and then, someone captures the heart of the nation with their zest for life & tenacious desire to give back to society.” They added that Deborah was “one of those special people ... thank you for giving hope to so many who are living with cancer”.