ANTHONY Joshua and David Beckham have paid tribute to Deborah James after she was made a Dame for her cancer campaign.
It comes after Trending In The News called for the inspirational writer to receive the honour for her tireless efforts to raise awareness of the disease and give hope to others.
The journalist, 40, has captured the hearts of the nation, raising more than a staggering £4million after revealing she has days, weeks at most, to live.
And a host of famous faces have praised Deborah after she was deservedly honoured with a Damehood.
Talk TV host Piers Morgan said: “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 even as she has been slowly and agonisingly losing her own.”
Famous footballing star David Beckham also chipped in with some words of support.
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The ex-Manchester United man called Deborah James’ story “both heart-breaking and truly inspiring.”
He said: “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.”
Heavyweight boxing star Anthony Joshua was another sportsman who paid tribute to her fighting spirit.
He said: “What an unbelievable fighter Deborah is. Her story has touched the nation and she is a true inspiration to us all.
“What she has done through her entire battle and of course in the last weeks, is nothing short of monumental both personally and to raise awareness and much needed funds.
“As a parent myself, I can’t imagine what she and her family are going through and I send all my love and support to the whole family.”
And Lorraine Kelly stated that she couldn’t “think of anyone more worthy of this honour”.
She added: “Deborah is a force of nature and at the very heart of our Bowel cancer awareness “No Butts“ campaign which has already saved countless lives.
“She’s so passionate about taking away the stigma and embarrassment surrounding bums and poo and making sure people overcome their squeamishness and take the bowel cancer test.
“I saw her in hospital recently and though she was physically frail her spirit and energy filled the room and her courage is just remarkable.
“I’m proud to know her and what a legacy she will leave her family and her friends.”
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 No 10 pulled out all the stops to honour the mum of two who has written for Trending In The News about her treatment and life since being diagnosed.
Prince William and Kate donated an undisclosed amount to her fundraiser yesterday.
And the Prince 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.
“William moved heaven and earth to make sure she got this award that she so richly deserves.”
Deborah’s family said that the support for her has been “hugely uplifting” and “heart warming”.
They told Trending In The News: “The outpouring of love and support that has been shown to Deborah through contributions to the Bowelbabe Fund during this extremely difficult time has been hugely uplifting and heart warming for us as a family and 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 would be something that she would never have dreamt of, but would be truly deserved.”
On Monday night, Deborah shared in a heartbreaking Instagram post that despite trying everything “my body simply isn’t playing ball”.
Five years after being diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, and defying the odds stacked up against her, the mum-of-two revealed “nobody knows how long I’ve got left”.
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.
She was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 and has kept her half a million strong Instagram followers up to date during her treatment.
Shortly after her diagnosis in 2017, Deborah started to share her journey in her Sun Online column, Things Cancer Made Me Say, and with her Instagram followers.
She co-hosted the BBC podcast, You, Me and the Big C, and wrote a book F*** You Cancer.
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Fronting Trending In The News’s bowel cancer campaign, Deborah helped put pressure on the Government to change the law, lowering the screening age from 60 to 50.
Dressing up as a poo emoji, dancing through chemo sessions in sequin dresses, Deborah showed the world you can live with incurable cancer.
