SUN writer Deborah James has been honoured with a Damehood after capturing the hearts of the nation with her heart-wrenchingly honest account of having bowel cancer.
The mum of two, 40, has raised £3.6million since Monday when she revealed she was on end-of-life care.
We led calls for her to be recognised.
Hero cancer campaigner Deborah James told of her shock at being made a Dame saying: “OMFG, this is crazy.”
Brave Deborah added: “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 No10 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.
Dame Deborah thanked everyone who has helped her BowelBabe Fund raise the staggering sum, adding: “It’s surpassed all expectations. I’d love to get it to £5million by the end of the weekend.”
Her kids Eloise, 12, and Hugo, 14, told The Sun: “We’re just speechless, we’re so, so proud.”
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.”
Her proud parents Heather and Alistair added: “It is amazing that the love for our inspirational daughter has been honoured in this way.
“It recognises her strength and courage in sharing her story over the last five years to help others facing the challenges of cancer.”
And her sister Sarah Wieczorek and brother Ben added: “The recent support shown for Deborah and the Bowelbabe Fund since its launch has simply been overwhelming.”
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.”
WILLS AND KATE TOUCHED
Prince William and wife Kate were hugely touched by Deborah’s courage and made their own substantial donation to the fund.
The Cambridges 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.
“Her tireless efforts to raise awareness of bowel cancer and end the stigma of treatment are inspiring.
“Deborah, our thoughts are with you, your family and your friends.
“Thank you for giving hope to so many who are living with cancer.”
The Sun’s campaign to honour Debs with a Damehood had been backed by leading charities and celebrities including football legend David Beckham, Talk TV’s Piers Morgan, heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, TV’s Lorraine Kelly and I’m A Celebrity winner Giovanna Fletcher.
Deborah was first diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer aged 35 in December 2016.
She was told it was unlikely she would live to see the following Christmas, and given an eight per cent chance of living five years.
Yet last year she celebrated her 40th, and the five-year milestone.
DEBORAH’S COURAGE
Last summer Deborah’s liver started to fail after the drugs that had been keeping her alive stopped working.
In January, she suffered a major internal bleed and was rushed to A&E by Seb, her husband of 13 years.
On Monday night, Dame Debs shared in a heartbreaking Instagram post that despite trying everything “my body simply isn’t playing ball”.
She said: “Nobody knows how long I’ve got left”.
In her final Things Cancer Made Me Say column for The Sun Online, she said: “My body just can’t continue anymore. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realise that my last six months have been pretty hellish health wise.
“So I sadly find myself in the place that I never wanted to be — the next crossroads. My body is so emaciated that I have no choice but to surrender to the inevitable.”
Yet, in true Deborah style, she was determined to give her campaigning one final push.
She launched the BowelBabe Fund, to raise money for Cancer Research UK, The Royal Marsden and Bowel Cancer UK.
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 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.
She has also co-hosted BBC podcast, You, Me and the Big C, written a book F*** You Cancer, as well as sharing her journey with her followers on Instagram.
Dressing up as a poo emoji, dancing through chemo sessions in sequin dresses, Deborah has shown the world you can live with incurable cancer.
Source: The Sun
