Bowelbabe Fund hits £20m milestone, praised by Prince William
The Bowelbabe Fund, created by Dame Deborah James shortly before her passing from bowel cancer, has remarkably surpassed its initial £250,000 target to reach an 'incredible milestone' of £20 million.
Prince William's Tribute
Prince William, the Prince of Wales, lauded Dame Deborah's 'amazing legacy' in an Instagram message, stating: 'Deborah is in our thoughts today, as are all those who loved her.' Dame Deborah, from Woking, Surrey, was instrumental in raising awareness and funds for bowel cancer research.
Family's Reaction
Heather James, Dame Deborah's mother, expressed profound pride, noting: 'Deborah would be absolutely over the moon if she were here today to see this.' Her father, Alistair James, conveyed similar sentiments on BBC Breakfast, reflecting on the scale of the achievement given Dame Deborah established the fund in the final weeks of her life.
Impact of the Fund
Cancer Research UK, a primary beneficiary, confirmed the funds have supported 16 vital research projects. These include the development of a 'Bowelbabe vaccine' designed to enhance immunity against bowel cancer. Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, emphasised that while significant progress has been made, with over half of UK bowel cancer patients surviving, 'there is still much more to do.'
Dame Deborah, co-host of the 'You, Me And The Big C' podcast, was posthumously honoured with a damehood for her extraordinary fundraising efforts, which notably exceeded £1 million within the first 24 hours of the fund's launch. Prince William personally conferred the honour during a visit to her home.
