Raise A Glass And Donate For Dame Deborah

Glasses are being raised in the Jersey Cancer Research store to pay tribute to campaigner Dame Deborah James, who died yesterday at the age of 40 after a lengthy battle with bowel cancer.

Fruit drinks and non-alcoholic prosecco are being offered to customers who make a donation today (29 June) in Dame Deborah's memory.

The headteacher turned podcaster raised millions of pounds for charity by raising awareness of the disease.

She launched the BowelBabe fund, which has raised more than £6.8m.

The mother-of-two was diagnosed in 2016 and had been receiving end-of-life care since May after stopping active treatment.

Charity Volunteer Fiona Walker says the idea of grabbing a drink and donating the equivalent amount was inspired by Dame Deborah.

"She asked people to go out and have a drink with friends or have a cup of coffee and make her the third person - buy her a cup or a glass as well.

So we're saying come in, have a glass of bubbles with us, non-alcohol, and please make a donation in her memory."

Tributes have been flooding in far and wide, including from the Prime Minister - who says her work will mean many lives will be saved.

I’m terribly saddened to hear that Dame Deborah James has died. What an inspiration she was to so many.

The awareness she brought to bowel cancer and the research her campaigning has funded will be her enduring legacy.

Because of her, many many lives will be saved.

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) June 28, 2022

Cancer Research Jersey Shop Manager Carina O'Connor says she was an incredible and inspirational lady.

"Such a sad loss, but she's left her legacy with her books and her podcasts. A lot of people have been inspired by her and are out there living with cancer and fighting it just as hard as she has.

A small donation, that's all we're asking for - nothing major.

We just want to acknowledge her passing and the battle that she had and the fact she was really an inspiration. We want to celebrate that.

She's been colourful, she's been very outspoken about how things have been going.

Even to the fact that this morning I was watching her say she was frightened of dying, but she still kept the brave face and still fought and carry on - that's what we want to honour."

The blogger and broadcaster was given a Damehood in May for her mammoth fundraising efforts.

Her efforts to raise awareness including encouraging people to check themselves.

Mrs. Walker says it's something to always remember.

"Don't let things slide, don't think oh there's a little bit of blood in my poo, I'm not really worried, perhaps it's hemorrhoids or perhaps it's something else.

Perhaps it is but perhaps it's not and that was her message. Get it checked. If anything was irregular or different, get it checked."

The Jersey store on Halkett Place is open until 5:30pm.