rivers2cross

On Monday the cancer community, in fact a large proportion of the nation, received the devastating news that Deborah “Bowelbabe” James was on end of life care for her bowel cancer. The outpouring of love and support for her has been of a rare kind that has been quite emotional to observe and be a small part of. I know how, for many bowel cancer patients, it has been especially difficult to deal with a whole range of emotions this week, which few of us can really fully appreciate. Deborah has been a shining light and huge support to so many people. Within a few days of the news breaking the Bowelbabe Fund set up by Deborah had raised millions and is currently standing at over £6 million as I am writing this. Her legacy will hopefully mean that more lives will be saved and that there will be people diagnosed with bowel cancer in the future, who won’t have to go through what Debs has had to. In the 10 years that I have been involved with bowel cancer following my mum’s diagnosis, no-one has done more to raise awareness, raise funds and put bowel cancer in the spotlight than Deborah. It was no more than she deserved this week to be made Dame Debs x

On Monday night I wondered what I could do to raise money for the fund, and the obvious thing was to do a Bowelbabe teddy bear. On Tuesday morning at work, I knocked up the prototype which has now become my own bear and put the bears up for sale on my www.rivers2cross.com website. What has happened since has been amazing! Today’s orders took the fundraising total past £1000 in less than a week. I am so grateful for all the support and encouragement, so thank you so much x Tonight I donated £300 adding to the £700 already donated.

All profits raised from every sale are donated to the Bowelbabe Fund which is supporting Cancer Research UK, The Royal Marsden and Bowel Cancer UK x