The bowel cancer fundraising page established by Dame Deborah James has received tens of thousands of pounds after the heartbreaking news of her death was announced.
Deborah had raised £6.75million in her final weeks and the total now stands at £6.9million, surpassing the £250,000 goal listed on the page.
The Bowelbabe fund for Cancer Research will help to support clinical trials and research for cancer patients and will raise awareness of bowel cancer.
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A statement was released on the fund’s page following the news of her death which thanked the public for their ‘incredible generosity’ and promised to ‘continue her legacy’.
The post reads: “We are devastated by the death of Dame Deborah James and our thoughts are with everyone affected by her loss. Deborah was an inspiration to us all and her incredible work to raise awareness of cancer touched so many lives.
“We will continue her legacy and support the causes Deborah was passionate about so that many more people benefit from new treatments and have more precious time with their loved ones.
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“Thank you for your incredible generosity and for playing a part in Deborah's legacy.”
The 40-year-old mum-of-two died on Tuesday (28 June) surrounded by her loved ones. Her family revealed the news in an Instagram post which paid tribute to ‘the most amazing wife, daughter, sister, mummy’.
Before her death, Dame Deborah urged the public to check their poo and to be aware of the early signs and symptoms of bowel cancer. Her last TV appearance on the Channel 4 series Embarrassing Bodies on 16 June saw the writer, podcaster and cancer campaigner dispel the myth that bowel cancer is ‘an old man’s disease’.
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She also said people should not be embarrassed about talking about poo because it will save lives. This important message was also mentioned in the statement posted by Dame Deborah’s family after her death.
The post continued: "Deborah shared her experience with the world to raise awareness, break down barriers, challenge taboos and change the conversation around cancer. Even in her most challenging moments, her determination to raise money and awareness was inspiring.
"We thank you for giving us time in private as a family, and we look forward to continuing Deborah’s legacy long into the future through the @bowelbabefund.
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"Thank you for playing your part in her journey, you are all incredible.
"And a few final things from Deborah…'find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope. And finally, check your poo – it could just save your life.' x."
Deborah was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 and kept her fans updated through her Instagram account.
She received end-of-life care at her parents’ home in Woking, Surrey after announcing last month that she would no longer be pursuing active care.
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Deborah has also revealed that she's set to have her second book How To Live When You Could Be Dead published.
The book has been fast-tracked with a publication date now set for 18 August 2022, after a date in January 2023 was originally set.
All of Deborah's royalties will go into the Bowel Babe fund and publisher Penguin has agreed to make an additional contribution per each copy sold, meaning altogether the donation per book will be £3.
You can donate to the Bowelbabe fund here.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week
Gregory Robinson