A HOMEWARE collection inspired by the late cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James goes on sale today.
Featuring candles, diffusers and prints bearing the Sun writer’s inspirational life lessons, the range will raise money for her Bowelbabe Fund.
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In the weeks before she died last June, Dame Debs captured the hearts of the nation with her honesty, strength and message of ‘Rebellious Hope’.
And now, Deborah’s spirit can be brought into people’s homes.
The Bowelbabe collection, developed together with Deborah’s family, includes candles, home diffusers and framed prints of inspiring quotes from Deborah.
The candles and diffusers are Deborah’s favourite floral scents– wild peony in the ‘Positive’ collection, bergamot and lavender in ‘Defiant’ and rose & patchouli in ‘Hope’.
Read more on Dame Deborah
All products are available from Cancer Research UK’s online shop as of today (November 7), and will be in selected Cancer Research UK high street shops in late November, while stocks last.
Deborah’s mum Heather James, said: “Deborah would have loved this collection.
“Inspired by her favourite flowers and powerful words, it’s a wonderful way to continue her legacy.
“As a family, we have been blown away by everyone’s support in spreading her message of rebellious hope and wanted the collection to celebrate that, while helping to fund the cutting-edge cancer research and brilliant awareness activity that she cared so deeply about.”
After being diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer in 2016, at the age of 35, mum-of-two Debs educated and inspired millions – and her legacy lives on today.
She shared her journey as a Sun columnist (Things Cancer Made Me Say) and co-host of the podcast You, Me and the Big C before being awarded the honour of becoming a Dame in 2022.
Despite being told she had an eight per cent chance of living five years, Deborah defied the odds stacked against her.
Profits will go to the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, which Deborah established in the final weeks of her life to help more people with cancer have time with those they love.
The staggering amount of money raised in such a short period of time was a testament to the number of lives Deborah touched.
At her death on June 28, 2022, it had raised nearly £7 million.
In April this year, the initial pioneering projects being funded by the Bowelbabe Fund were announced.
They include working with The Institute of Cancer Research, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and Bowel Cancer UK. More projects will be announced in due course.
Chief executive of Cancer Research UK Michelle Mitchell, said: “Dame Deborah captured the nation’s heart by sharing her cancer experience with unflinching honesty and humour, and confronting taboos.
“Even in the most challenging times, she was determined to keep raising money and awareness, and we’re honoured to be able to continue the amazing work she started alongside her family.
“This beautiful collection celebrates Deborah’s hope and positivity and with all profits raised going directly to the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, it will help continue her legacy to bring hope for a better future for people affected by cancer.”
Deborah was diagnosed with bowel cancer days before Christmas in 2016 after feeling tired, losing weight, passing blood and going to the toilet ‘what felt like 100 times per day’ for some six months.
The symptoms are typical of bowel cancer, which can include a change in your bowel habits, blood in stool, weight loss, pain in your abdomen or back, fatigue and feeling as though you need to strain your back package, even after using the toilet.
But Deborah desperately wanted to break the ‘poo taboo’ to raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms, and dressed up as the poo emoji to normalise conversations around changing bowel habits.
She spearheaded The Sun’s No Time 2 Lose campaign which saw the age of bowel cancer screening expanded to those over 50, initially only available to those over 60 years of age.
Bowel cancer is the UK’s second deadliest cancer, claiming 16,500 lives each year.
However, nearly everyone survives it if diagnosed at the earliest stage, according to Bowel Cancer UK.
To donate to the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, visit Bowelbabe.org and for news and updates follow @bowelbabefund on Instagram.
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