Hard not to cry. And smile at the sheer joy for life that poured off Dame Deborah James. Monday’s documentary on the one and only Bowelbabe certainly will have broken a few hearts all over again.
In her own unique style, Deborah determined to keep living while she was dying, becoming a huge campaigner and advocate for research and treatment in the UK. The documentary Deborah James: Bowelbabe in her Own Words tells the story of living with stage 4 bowel cancer from the age of 35.
For Radiotherapy UK, Deborah was an early supporter of the 2020 #CatchUpWithCancer campaign, filming a video for our All I Want for Christmas appeal and urging for life-saving research to continue during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The campaign was launched with the support of Craig and Mandy Russell, when their 31-year-old daughter, Kelly, died following serious delays in her cancer treatment.
Deborah and Kelly were good friends. And each created a legacy for people affected by cancer that will go on.
“I don’t want any other Deborah’s to go through this.” Deborah states poignantly in the BBC documentary.
We couldn’t agree more.
