Queen ‘pleased’ to make inspirational Deborah James a Dame after outpouring of love
THE Queen said she was “pleased” to make inspirational Deborah James a Dame after an outpouring of love from the nation.
Known as Bowel Babe, the Sun columnist has raised a staggering amount for charity in a matter of days.
The 40-year-old has been living with bowel cancer since 2016, and has raised more than £4million since Monday.
Last night, Number 10 confirmed that Deborah is to be made a dame after the Sun led the calls for the honour to be bestowed.
Downing Street said: “The Queen has been pleased to approve that the honour of damehood be conferred upon Deborah James.”
The news came days after Deborah revealed to her army of supporters she had stopped active care and was at her parent’s house.
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Hero cancer campaigner Deborah James told of her shock at being made a Dame saying: “OMFG, this is crazy.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m blown away and feel incredibly honoured.
“I don’t feel like I deserve this. I can’t tell you what this means to my family, it’s so much to take in.”
Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and No 10 pulled out all the stops to honour the mum of two who has written for The Sun about her treatment and life since being diagnosed.
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Prince William is thought to have been the driving force behind the honour.
He worked behind the scenes to make sure that she got her damehood.
A source said: “William and Katherine were extremely moved by Deborah’s story, both being parents themselves, and were blown away by her campaign.”
The Cambridges earlier tweeted: “Every now and then, someone captures the heart of the nation with their zest for life and tenacious desire to give back to society. @bowelbabe is one of those special people. Deborah, our thoughts are with you, your family and your friends.
“Thank you for giving hope to so many who are living with cancer.”
She launched the Bowelbabe Fund, to raise money for Cancer Research UK, The Royal Marsden and Bowel Cancer UK.
Celebs and charities hail Deborah James:
PIERS Morgan said: “Dame Deborah has a great ring to it. I can’t think of anyone in Britain who more deserves a damehood than this extraordinarily brave and inspiring woman who has helped save so many lives.”
Davina McCall said: “Deborah is an elemental force of nature. Always working so hard to leave the world a better place, she has saved countless lives through education and awareness while fighting her own battle with such grace”.
David Beckham said: “Deborah James’ story is both heartbreaking and truly inspiring. Her fight against cancer and her spirit and positivity are simply incredible and will give so much strength to so many people fighting this cruel disease.”
Phillip Schofield said: “Deborah enabled us to be more open and less fearful about cancer by sharing her story. She’s touched the hearts of the whole country and will forever remain an inspiring figure.
Carol Vorderman said: “Deborah has defined a new way of viewing a terminal illness. She’s used every means possible to get the ‘check, check, check’ message across to others to look for the warning signs.”
Giovanna Fletcher said: “Deborah’s worked tirelessly for five years to get people more comfortable talking about the uncomfortable. Her smile, humour and love of life has pulled people together. She’s special.”
Anthony Joshua said: “What an unbelievable fighter Deborah has been over recent years. What she has managed to do is nothing short of monumental — both personally and to raise awareness and much-needed funds.”
Ulrika Jonsson said: “Not many people may have met Deborah James but I’m sure everyone knows who she is. And she has done that out of utter selflessness – sacrificing her own personal, private battle and making it public.
“I can think of many people who have been thrown a Damehood for much less. This woman has been a miracle and she has brightened all our lives despite her suffering. An ordinary person doing extraordinary things in her final hours.”
Laura Mahon said: “Let’s face it. Deb has Dame written all over her! The ferocity of her commitment to improve the outcomes for those affected by cancer knows no bounds. She has saved and changed too many lives to mention. Including mine. She deserves the world.”
It is her wish that the money goes to fund life-saving research to give hope to others — to help realise her long-held dream that her children might grow up in a world where all cancer can be cured.
Fronting our bowel cancer campaign, Deborah helped put pressure on the Government to change the law, lowering the screening age from 60 to 50.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed Dame Debs saying: “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.
“Through her tireless campaigning and by so openly sharing her experience she has not only helped in our fight against this terrible disease, she has ensured countless others with the Big C have not felt alone. I hope this recognition from Her Majesty — backed I’m sure by the whole country — will provide some comfort to Deborah and her family at this difficult time.
“My thoughts are with them and Deborah should know she has the country’s love and gratitude.”
The hero Sun columnist has raked in more than 16 times her original £250,000 goal for Cancer Research UK.
Determined Deborah now wants to reach the £5million milestone by the weekend.
She said: “It’s surpassed all expectations. I’d love to get it to £5million by the end of the weekend.”
Husband Seb said the outpouring of love, support and donations has been hugely uplifting and heartwarming for the family during “this extremely difficult time”.
He added: “It has brought a piercing ray of light and hope into this, the darkest of times.
“She has campaigned tirelessly, often through adversity, and being recognised with a Damehood is something that she would never have dreamt of, but it is so truly deserved.”
The podcaster says that the hospice has advised her that she could have ‘weeks at most’, left with her family.
Once ticking off her to-do list, which includes ‘death admin’, Deborah has vowed to relax and spend time with her family, her parents, husband Sebastien and her two children, Hugo and Eloise.
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“I want to die listening to my family, I just want to hear their banter and the normal buzz of life as I go”, she told The Times.
As emotional as she is, she said she doesn’t want her life to be a sad story and has no regrets.
“I could have regretted putting my life on show and stripping off to my knickers for bowel cancer but I don’t regret it, I met incredible people and felt I was making an impact.”
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