BBC cancer podcaster Deborah James choked on tears earlier today when she thanked everyone who donated to her fundraising campaign for cancer, which raised a staggering £ 2.1 million.
Launched Monday, the Bowelbabe Cancer Research Fund in the UK has raised more than £ 2,107,000 and has so far been supported by more than 125,000 people.
Speaking in an interview, she said learning about the sheer number of donations made her feel “extremely loved” and it was as if everyone was “at the end together” to make a difference. She said she was “absolutely delighted” with the figure and thanked people for their generosity.
Her interview came after she said she was preparing to “surrender to the inevitable” and was in a hospice at the end of her life, surrounded by her family, in a heartfelt “last” column in the newspaper. The 40-year-old star of the famous podcast “You, Me and the Big C” wrote that her body was left “weakened” by five years of fighting bowel cancer.
Speaking to the BBC on Tuesday, Ms James, who has incurable bowel cancer, said setting up a cancer fund was something she had always wanted to do. “Ultimately, what I really want to happen is that I don’t want other Deborahs to go through this,” she said.
“We know that when we catch cancer early, we can cure it. We know that much more needs to be invested in cancer. We know we have the skills and the passion in the UK to do that. But I just feel that we still need this reminder, this push and this money.
“So before I died, the only thing I knew I wanted to do was create a fund that could continue to work on some of the things that gave me life, like innovative drug research, because if it wasn’t for some of the drugs they gave me early – it gave me two years of extra life and it could be someone else’s life.
She said that while speaking to the BBC to do the interview, she realized that the fundraiser had already overcome the milestone of £ 1 million. It has since surpassed £ 2.1 million. Ms. James said in her mind that she imagined they could collect about a quarter of that.
“I thought that would be enough to fund several projects in charities that I wanted to finance. 24 hours to make a million and I’m absolutely confused, “she said. “I just can’t thank people enough for their generosity because it just means so much to me.
“It simply came to my notice then. But it makes me feel like we’re all together after all, and we all want to make a difference and say, you know what? Get rid of the cancer. We can do better. We can do better for people and we just have to show who the boss is.
BBC podcast host Deborah James, who has incurable bowel cancer, shed tears today as she thanked everyone who donated to her fundraising campaign for cancer, which raised a staggering £ 2 million
Earlier today, in a heartfelt “last” newspaper column, the mother of two said she was now trying to feel “comfortable” at home and trying to have the “best quality death” she could, surrounded by loved ones. .
But the former deputy head teacher, who turned into a campaign that won praise for sharing his experiences with his battle with cancer, admitted today that he was “afraid of death.”
In an emotional song at The Sun, she said: “I can’t imagine not seeing my children grow up – that I will no longer be a part of the life I love so much.
“I’m not brave – I don’t have the dignity to go to my death – I’m just a scared girl doing something she has no choice in, but I know I’m grateful for the life I had.
“It was a crazy whirlwind, but I did things I never thought I could or would do in my life. I hope that throughout the campaign I have even saved other people’s lives and, most importantly, that I had fun trying my best to learn how to live with cancer.
Deborah, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016, made an emotional farewell post on her social media pages on Monday. In a heartbreaking Instagram post, she wrote: “The message I never wanted to write. We tried everything, but my body just doesn’t play with a ball.
“My active care has stopped and I am now transferred to a hospice at home, with my amazing family around me, and the focus is on making sure I’m not in pain and spending time with them.
“No one knows how much time I have left, but I can’t walk, I sleep most days and most of the things I took for granted are incredible dreams. I know we haven’t left a stone unturned. But even with all the innovative drugs for cancer in the world or some new magical breakthrough, my body just can’t go on anymore.
But demonstrating strength in the face of adversity, Deborah, who has stage four bowel cancer, followed her post today with thanks to those who supported her new fundraising campaign.
Along with her post, Deborah announced the Bowelbabe Foundation for Cancer Research – originally aimed at raising £ 250,000. But within hours the total exceeded that target – and by 10 a.m. today it had reached a staggering £ 1 million. It currently amounts to more than £ 2 million.
In an Instagram post, she said she was “completely overwhelmed” by the generosity of those who supported her fundraising initiative.
She wrote: “I never imagined in my wildest dreams that we would wake up 24 hours later. I’m actually crying!
“I am completely overwhelmed by your generosity over the last 12 hours! To think that you have raised over £ 600,000 for vital research just fills me with so much love. You are the dearest people. Thank you.’
The mother of two, who has been battling cancer for five years, said she was surrounded by her “amazing” family at home (pictured with her children)
The 40-year-old former deputy head teacher who became a cancer fighter, who won applause with her BBC 5 Live You, Me and the Big C podcast, said she was “completely overwhelmed” by the generosity of those who supported the initiative. fundraising. The mother of two, who has been living with stage IV bowel cancer since she was diagnosed in December 2016, announced yesterday the Bowelbabe Cancer Research Foundation, while revealing that she has been transferred to a home care hospice.
The mother of two, who has been living with stage IV bowel cancer since she was diagnosed in December 2016, announced the Bowelbabe Cancer Research Foundation yesterday, while revealing that she has been transferred to a hospice at home. The fundraiser at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, May 10, raised more than £ 1 million
As of 1 a.m. Wednesday, Bowelbabe’s fundraising campaign had surpassed £ 2.1 million, thanks to 125,272 supporters.
In an emotional post shared on Instagram earlier tonight, Deborah said her body “doesn’t play ball” and she spends “most of the day asleep”
Deborah and her husband Sebastian Bowen in April 2019. The mother of two said she left no stone unturned when it came to her treatment
Her latest posts on social media come after she paid tribute to the “brave” BBC 5 podcast presenter after her heartbreaking “goodbye” message yesterday.
Fans and colleagues last night celebrated her work to raise awareness about bowel cancer and help break the stigma of Big C.
Among them was Mr. Bland, whose wife Rachel, a BBC News journalist who launched the You, Me and the Big C podcast with Deborah and co-hosted Lauren Mahan in 2018 after he was diagnosed with cancer. Mrs. Bland succumbed to breast cancer later that year.
In an Instagram post, Mr Bland said: “Where do I start … I will leave everything I want to say for another time. I am so proud of this beautiful, inspiring woman that I can call one of my best friends.
Responding to news that Deborah’s fundraising had reached more than £ 1 million, he added: “Don’t adjust your kits. Bowelbabe raised over one million pounds. We’re not done there after all, are we?
Deborah James’ announcement that she is moving entirely to a hospice:
“The message I never wanted to write. We tried everything, but my body just doesn’t play with a ball. My active care has stopped and I am now transferred to a hospice at home, with my amazing family around me, and the focus is on making sure I’m not in pain and spending time with them.
“No one knows how much time I have left, but I can’t walk, I sleep most days and most of the things I took for granted are incredible dreams. I know we haven’t left a stone unturned. But even with all the innovative cancer drugs in the world or some magical new breakthrough, my body just can’t go on.
“After more than 5 years of writing about how I thought it would be my last Christmas, how I would not see my 40th birthday or see my children go to high school – I never imagined writing this where I will actually say goodbye.
“I think this is the rebellious hope in me.
“But I don’t think anyone can say that the last 6 months have been exactly good! It’s all heartbreaking, but I’m surrounded by so much love that if anything can help me survive, I hope it will.
Bowelbabe Foundation
“I always knew there was one thing I always wanted to do before I died. Over the years, I have always raised so much information and money about the charities that are closest to me. @cr_uk @royalmarsden @bowelcaceruk
“As a result, @bowelbabefund is being created and I would like nothing more than for you to help it thrive. Please visit bowelbabe.org for all information and donate (link in bio).
“All I’m asking is if you’ve ever read a column, followed my Instagram, listened to a podcast or seen me dressed like poop for no reason. Please buy me a drink to see me in this world by donating to @bowelbabefund, which will allow us to raise funds for further life-saving cancer research. To give Deborah more time!
“Right now, for me, it’s all about taking it every day, step by step, and being grateful for another sunrise. My whole family is around me and we will dance through it together, sunbathing …
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