Heartbreaking messages from big-hearted Sun readers have left me humbled and proud, says Dame Deborah James
Dame Debs began sharing her story with readers in her column Things Cancer Made Me Say, shortly after being diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer in 2017Here, we share some of the letters you have sent in for our friend and colleague, the one and only Dame Deborah.
YOU are truly remarkable to have the courage and will to fight bravely and publicly against bowel cancer. I admire your spirit, honesty and determination. Your battle teaches us all to be selfless and think of others, as you do, fundraising and educating the nation about this devastating and often taboo cancer.WOW! what a beautiful gem you are. Your strong willpower proved that if humans want to do something good for humanity it is possible – even from end-of-life care. You also remind us of Sir Captain Tom, who showed what a 99-year-old is capable of doing. You have made the whole nation proud of you. Love and best wishes.YOUR smile is so infectious, everybody who sees you gets moved by that beautiful and warm smile. It certainly makes my day much brighter.HOW sad to learn that you are losing your battle against bowel cancer. To have raised more than £6.4million for your BowelBabe charity is so touching. Just as you said in your last Sun column: “Find a life you love. Have no regrets and hold on to rebellious hope.”YOU give credibility to the Honours List, which had become corrupted by greed and PR gimmicks. At last a true, worthy recipient along with Captain Tom. You and your family deserve it.HOW amazing is Prince William to visit you at your home to personally present you with your Damehood. I can’t think of a person who is more deserving of this award. I have followed you in The Sun and on Lorraine Kelly’s TV show over the past five years and your lovely bubbly character and selfless effort to keep bowel cancer in the news has made a difference to so many.IF ever there was a worthy recipient of a Damehood, then it is you. With so many honours given out willy-nilly, not a soul can deny this honour you so deserve. Your honest, heartbreaking account of your fight with bowel cancer has affected the nation.I was glad to donate to the Bowelbabe Fund, but also sad that there is not yet a cure for bowel cancer. Same with prostate cancer – I lost my dear brother to it three years ago. Screening ages for cancers should be lowered. We waste so much money in this country. Medical research should top the list for Government help.OMG, what an amazing lady. So very brave. Your story in The Sun last week is a must-read for everyone, whether affected by cancer or not. I’ve read your columns and followed you on Instagram and can only say how very brave you are. As a survivor of brain cancer, I find it so very, very sad that you will not live to see your children grow up. Deborah, I send you all my love.I just hope, when it’s my time to depart and leave all I’ve cherished and loved, that I will be as strong as you. Bless you.WHO could fail to be deeply moved by your fight with cancer. Shining like a beacon of light, you faced the “Big C” head on and determined that you would go on fighting right to the very end. I’m sure I am not the only one praying for a miracle, and whatever happens, your two young children will grow up in the knowledge that you were an inspirational and very special lady.WHAT an amazing, courageous woman you are. I cried reading your article in The Sun. It is heartbreaking.Dear Dame Deborah YOUR courage in the face of cancer is beyond any that I can imagine. Even in the face of death, you have managed to raise millions for research to give others a better chance of a cure or a longer life. What an absolute legend. You are one of the most amazing women to have ever lived, my thoughts are with you and your family.I too had bowel cancer last year. It came on suddenly and I was rushed to hospital. It turned out to be stage two and was removed, but the cancer spread to my lung and I am now going through chemo. It’s such a pity treatment hasn’t worked for you. You are an inspiration to all cancer sufferers and have given me the determination to beat it.BERNIE MCALISTERTHIS is so very, very sad. My partner follows you on Instagram and has kept me updated with how you are doing. Your column was so desperately sad to read. My goodness, I wish I could wave a magic wand. Instead I can only wish you and your family all the love in the world.MY heart goes out to you and your family. I too am terminally ill and being looked after by my wonderful wife and hospice-at-home nurses. I have accepted I am dying and take each day as it comes.Dear Dame Deborah INSPIRATIONAL is a word that is used too easily these days. But take centre stage, Deborah. You are a remarkable, courageous, caring, loving woman – and the true definition of inspirational. I have followed your story, read your final column and donated.Atherton, Gtr ManchesterMY heart goes out to you. You have done a brilliant job for bowel cancer awareness and I’m sure saved many lives. My love goes to you and your family.DURING your brave five-year battle with cancer you have always managed to have a positive outlook. At a time when the world is rocked by the misery of Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine, your wonderful courage is soothing. What an incredibly inspirational person you are.The rose will be sold to raise money for her cancer charityand will help raise money for her cancer charity. Roses are the 40-year-old’s favourite flower and she told The Sun she hopes her daughter Eloise, 12, will one day have the white and pale pink bloom at the heart of her wedding bouquet. Deborah said: “All I can think is what a stunning thing to have. It makes me sad but it fills me with so much joy that this rose can now be bred for years to come.Dame Debs was presented with a stunning bouquet of her new rose by the team at The Harkness Rose Company. It will be introducing the new flower next week at its Chelsea Flower Show stand. For every rose sold, £2.50 will be donated to the Bowelbabe Fund, which has raised more than £6.4million in just over a week, £7.5million if you count Gift Aid. Deborah added: “Roses are my favourite flowers and I hope this one will brighten the smiles for all.” The latest fundraiser comes just a day after Deborah revealed she has created a clothing collection in partnership with In The Style. It launched its first item, a T-shirt emblazoned with Deborah’s inspirational motto Rebellious Hope, and it sold out in a matter of hours, raising £210,000.
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