Despite receiving end of life care, Dame Deborah James has raised more than £6 million for her BowelBabe Fund in just a few days.
The You, Me and The Big C podcaster, 40, has terminal bowel cancer – originally diagnosed in December 2016 – and told fans earlier in May 2022 that she had stopped receiving treatment.
She’s set up a Cancer Research UK-backed fund to support clinical trials, and raise awareness of bowel cancer in young people, named for her social media handle ‘BowelBabe’.
In an emotional message to fans, Deborah wrote: ‘I always knew there was one thing I always wanted to do before I died…
‘I have always over the years raised as much awareness and money for the charities that are closest to me. @cr_uk @royalmarsden @bowelcanceruk. As a result, the @bowelbabefund is being established and I’d love nothing more than for you to help it flourish.’
And flourish it has – with a flurry of donations arriving in just a few days, and a Damehood for Deborah’s fundraising efforts, presented by Prince William at her family home.
Want to add to the total? Here’s how you can donate.
How to donate to Dame Deborah James’ BowelBabe Fund
To donate, head to the BowelBabe Fund on JustGiving.
Every little makes a difference, with Deborah writing on the page: ‘All I ask is that next time you pop for a coffee or grab a drink with a friend, please consider donating the cost of one extra for me.’
At the time of writing, more than 292,000 people had chipped in, raising almost £6.3 million.
Originally, the BowelBabe Fund was aiming to raise £250,000, with fans ensuring it surpassed expectation.
When the total hit £5 million, Deborah updated fans with her delight, saying: ‘We’ve just reached the unbelievable total of £5m. We’re completely lost for words.
‘This is all just beyond anything we could have ever imagined. The last five days have been surreal. Thank you for putting a huge smile on my face, and helping us to launch a legacy to hopefully impact a lifetime [of] cutting edge cancer care.’
Credit: Original article published here.You can read this post on My Celebrity Life.