MAKE our Debs a Dame!
Sun writer Deborah James has captured the hearts of the nation, raising a staggering £3.6million after revealing she has days, weeks at most, to live.
And today, Trending In The News launches a campaign to call for the 40-year-old cancer campaigner to be honoured with a Damehood for her tireless efforts to raise awareness of the disease and give hope to others.
Deborah’s family 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.
READ MORE ON DEBORAH JAMES
“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.”
They joined celebrities including David Beckham, Talk TV’s Piers Morgan, Anthony Joshua, Lorraine Kelly and Giovanna Fletcher, and leading charities backing calls for Dame Debs.
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.
It’s 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 Eloise, 12, and Hugo, 14, might grow up in a world where cancer can be cured.
A tidal wave of donations flooded in, with Royals and swathes of celebrities praising Deborah and urging people to support her.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 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.”
Stars from the worlds of TV, football and boxing echoed Kate and Wills’ admiration.
Talk TV star Piers Morgan said no one in Britain is more deserving of a Damehood.
He told Trending In The News: “Dame Deborah has a great ring to it.
“This extraordinarily brave and inspiring woman has helped save so many lives.
“It’s the least we can do to thank her for her amazing selflessness that has touched the world.”
Hailing her story both “heartbreaking and inspiring”, David Beckham added: “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.”
Davina McCall, called her friend a “hero and a total inspiration”, adding: “Deborah is an elemental force of nature. Always working so hard to leave the world a better place, and has saved countless lives through education and awareness.
“All while fighting her own battle against this debilitating and cruel cancer with such grace.”
Lorraine added: “I can’t think of anyone more worthy of this honour. I’m proud to know her and what a legacy she will leave her family and her friends.”
Boxing heavyweight Anthony Joshua hailed Deborah as an “unbelievable fighter”.
“What she has done is nothing short of monumental both personally and to raise awareness and much-needed funds.”
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.
Read More on Trending In The News
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.
