nobility
Queen names terminally ill BBC presenter dame
BBC presenter Deborah James (l), who is terminally ill with colon cancer, has been knighted by the Queen for her multi-million dollar fundraising campaign. Photo: Ian West/PA Wire/dpa
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Deborah James knows she’s going to die soon. She is terminally ill. However, she uses her last days to call for donations. This has not escaped the attention of the royal family.
BBC presenter Deborah James, who is terminally ill with colon cancer, has been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II (96) for her multi-million dollar fundraising campaign.
The Queen has appointed the 40-year-old lady, the British government announced late Thursday evening. James has raised four million pounds (4.7 million euros) for cancer research in just a few days (as of Friday morning).
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Queen’s grandson Prince William and his wife Duchess Kate, who also donated to the “Bowelbabe Fund”, acknowledged the commitment of the mother of two.
“If an honor was ever deserved, this is it,” said Johnson. “Deborah is an inspiration and her honesty, warmth and courage are a sign of strength for many people.” It is rare for the Queen to make someone a Dame or a Knight on short notice. Honors are usually announced at set times. The “Birthday Honors” in honor of the Queen’s birthday are planned for early June.
James was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016. On Monday she made it public that she did not have long to live and had moved to her parents’ house to die. At the same time, she launched the fundraising campaign.