The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton have paid tribute to Popular cancer campaigner and podcaster, Dame Deborah James who died after battling terminal bowel cancer for years.
Recall the 40-year-old blogger left her career as a deputy head teacher and began blogging about her diagnosis under the name Bowel Babe in 2017.
The podcaster, who was best known for sharing her six-year battle with terminal bowel cancer on the popular BBC podcast You, Me and the Big C, became a Sun columnist and released a book, Fuck You Cancer: How to Face the Big C, Live Your Life and Still Be Yourself.
On 10th May 2022, the cancer campaigner said she had never expected to reach her 40th birthday, or see her children go to secondary school.
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According to her, her health had deteriorated over the past six months and she had moved to hospice at home, where she was receiving end-of-life care.
After announcing that she was receiving end-of-life care, she launched a fundraiser for cancer research, the Bowelbabe Fund, which has so far raised more than £6m on her JustGiving page.
A few days after its launch she was made a dame. The award was presented to her at her parents’ home by Prince William.
After his visit, William said that visiting James was “an amazing moment” and that he “loved meeting her, she was fantastic”.
Speaking to doctors and nurses at The Royal Marsden hospital who were involved in Deborah’s care, He added:
“I was very honoured to be able to speak to her, it felt like a very personal family moment… it was a glorious day as well.”
In a teary last appearance on You, Me and the Big C, entitled Deborah James’ Last Dance, James said her final farewell.
The news about her death was announced yesterday by her family. She is survived by her husband, two children, and her parents.
Paying tribute to Dame Deborah James following the “heartbreaking news” of her death, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton wrote on their official Twitter account:
“Deborah was an inspirational and unfalteringly brave woman whose legacy will live on”
