Deborah James has tonight (May 12) told of her joy after being honoured with a damehood. Deborah, 40, has raised an astonishing £3.6million since Monday when she revealed she was receiving hospice care at home and preparing to say goodbye - after she was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016.
Deborah, who presented the award-winning podcast You, Me and the Big C on Radio 5 Live, told The Sun after she found out she was being made a dame: "OMFG, this is crazy. I don't know what to say. I'm blown away and feel incredibly honoured.
"I don't feel like I deserve this. I can't tell you what this means to my family, it's so much to take in."
Deborah thanked everyone who has helped her BowelBabe Fund raise the amazing amount. She added: "It's surpassed all expectations. I'd love to get it to £5million by the end of the weekend."
Her children Eloise, 12, and Hugo, 14, told The Sun: "We're just speechless. We're so, so proud."
In a statement, Downing Street said the Queen was "pleased to approve the honour of damehood" be conferred upon Deborah. Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised her for her work helping others with cancer.
He said: "If ever an honour was richly deserved, this is it. Deborah has been an inspiration and her honesty, warmth and courage has been a source of strength to so many people.
"Through her tireless campaigning and by so openly sharing her experience she has not only helped in our fight against this terrible disease, she has ensured countless others with the Big C have not felt alone. I hope this recognition from Her Majesty – backed I'm sure by the whole country – will provide some comfort to Deborah and her family at this difficult time.
"My thoughts are with them and Deborah should know she has the country's love and gratitude." Damehoods and knighthoods are normally announced as part of the New Year Honours or the Queen's Birthday Honours. But in exceptional circumstances, some are announced at other times of the year - as happened with Captain Sir Tom Moore's knighthood.
