Dame Deborah James’ mother paid tribute to her late daughter on World Cancer Day.
Gymnastics coach Heather James was a strong supporter of her daughter’s battle with colon cancer until her death in June 2022.
To mark World Cancer Day, Heather paid tribute to her daughter with a touching post on her Instagram Story.
Resharing a post from Dame Deborah’s Gut Babe Foundation, Heather wrote: “Four years ago, on World Cancer Day, Deborah vowed to continue raising his awareness of bowel cancer.
“Deborah, you will never be forgotten and your legacy will continue through the Bauerbabe Foundation. I love and miss you forever.”
She added: “What a huge hole you have left in our hearts and lives.”
Dame Deborah James passed away on June 28, 2022, aged 40, after an incredible campaign to raise money for bowel cancer treatment.
After being diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 35, her image of dancing through chemotherapy and living with “rebellious hope” became a huge sensation through her social media content.
She started a TikTok movement to imitate “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” while channeling her inner Celine Dion, and encouraged others undergoing cancer treatment to join in. encouraged people to wear sparkly clothes.
Alongside her campaigning, she co-hosted the BBC podcast You, Me & The Big C with Lauren Mahon and Rachel Brand, who died of breast cancer in 2018. After her death, her husband Steve took over as presenter.
Mum-of-two Deborah launched the Gut Babe Foundation in the last months of her life, raising more than £11 million for cancer charities.
Heather and her father Alistair, along with Deborah’s own children Hugo and Eloise and husband Seb, helped look after her daughter during her final days at her family home in Woking, Surrey.
Heather was first diagnosed with cancer in 2016 and continued to support the former vice principal turned cancer activist.
She was by her side during countless hospitalizations, participated in Deborah’s viral “chemomodus” and cared for her grandson “at a moment’s notice.”
Heather also allowed Deborah’s fans to share updates on her Instagram page @bowelgran and stood in for her daughter when she was too ill to attend an event.
One such occasion will be the Scottish presenter’s midday show from April 19th to May 5th, when he will present the ‘No. Butts” campaign.
Deborah praised her mother’s appearance, writing on Instagram: “So proud of my mom for helping @lorraine and I launch the #NoButts campaign today.”
“This campaign is something I’m very passionate about. So of course it’s a shame that I’m not well enough to go there in person (yet!).”
In her later years, Dame Deborah released her InTheStyle clothing line, which championed the mantra of “rebellious hope.”
She also received Damehood personally from Prince William, who stopped by Woking for afternoon tea in Heather and Alistair’s garden.
When Deborah passed away, Heather posted a touching tribute to her daughter on Instagram.
She shared a post on her Story announcing the cancer activist’s death, writing, “My heart is broken.”
In another, she said, “I love you forever.”