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"Find a life worth enjoying": Dame Deborah's final letter to her family

<p dir="ltr">Dame Deborah James wrote a heartwarming letter to her family in her final days before succumbing to bowel cancer at the age of 40. </p> <p dir="ltr">The popular British media personality, mother-of-two and podcaster who raised millions of dollars for charity <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/vale-dame-deborah" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed away</a> “peacefully” on June 28.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a section of a book titled How To Live When You Could Be Dead, Dame Deborah penned the final letter which her family would be left with. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I am currently sitting here next to the love of my life, Sebastien,” the letter began. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I never quite knew if you could really have a love of your life, but I now know what the very core of unquestioned love is between two people.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I have always loved my husband. I fancied him from when I first met him, and I knew I would marry him after our third date. It was clear to me that, while he wasn’t perfect, there was something about him that was right for me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">She then reflected on their time together and said it was so important to take time for the marriage and how sometimes you forget your loved one is there when life gets busy. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s easy to forget that the person you love is still there in front of you when things are clouded by the annoyance of childcare logistics, money pressures and living like ships in the night,” her letter continued.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfXIN1-ob4X/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfXIN1-ob4X/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Deborah James (@bowelbabe)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“I wish I had learned at a young age that making time for your marriage to work should be as much a part of your timetable as going to the gym or cleaning your teeth.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s important that you don’t allow the big arguments to build up, when all you really want is to forget about everything and cuddle the one person who you love.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Dame Deborah then got candid about her feelings following her diagnosis with cancer, confessing that she felt “robbed” for not being able to be herself. </p> <p dir="ltr">“As cancer brings my life to an end, I feel this cruel realisation that I’m not fully able to be myself with the one person I have adored and needed in my life more than anyone else,” she wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I feel robbed of the freedom of a body without pain to kiss with, the freedom for us to make whimsical plans for our future and retirement together.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our goals and dreams have had to be adjusted week by week and day by day, depending on my cancer.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The media personality then reached a part for her children Hugo and Eloise as she recalled precious memories she had while raising them. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve learned that there are many ways to parent — nothing is right or wrong as long as there is love,” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There are mental snapshots of being a parent that will never leave you. But the beautifully etched memories that will come to you in your death are not necessarily the ones you might expect.</p> <p dir="ltr">“One of my first is of Hugo when he was four days old. He was lying next to me in our double bed in our flat, and he was looking for my breast to feed on — he was yellow and had a big conehead.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I remember looking at this little 6lb ball cradled against my tummy and thinking that it was only at this point that I had begun to understand what love was.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I now look at that same 14-year-old boy, who still takes the time to cuddle up next to me on the sofa, and I would give anything to continue being able to protect him in the way I did when he was just four days old.” </p> <p dir="ltr">Dame Deborah then ended with a reminder, telling readers that it is okay to relax and take time for yourself. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Take time out. Relaxing isn’t an indulgence — it’s a form of refilling ourselves. None of us can drink from empty cups.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Each day, do things that make you happy — build them into your life and never criticise others for the things that make them happy.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Every day we wake not knowing if we will see the full 24 hours of the day, so as the sun comes up on a new day, we should feel blessed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are given 86,400 seconds every day, and we each choose how to use them.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It is only as they begin to slip away from us that we understand the value of each and every one of those seconds.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>You can read the entire letter from Dame Deborah James from How To Live When You Could Be Dead, by Deborah James out on August 18, 2022. </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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"Peace, comfort and courage": Dame Deborah James farewelled

<p>Dame Deborah James has been farewelled at a private funeral in London after losing her five-year battle with bowel cancer. </p> <p>The cancer campaigner, also known as Bowel Babe, died on June 29th at age 40. </p> <p>A service for the mum-of-two, who raised £7.4 million ($12.8 million) for multiple cancer charities in her final weeks, was a private service for family and friends which took place in West London's St Mary's Church.</p> <p>Local police shared their sorrow at the event taking place, tweeting: "Incredible and inspiring, Dame Deborah James! Your memory will live forever!</p> <p>"Our thoughts are with the family and friends! Wishing you peace, comfort and courage at this time of sorrow," they said.</p> <p>Deborah's husband and two children were among the procession that followed the hearse through the streets of the suburb in a sombre tribute. </p> <p>The 40-year-old's wicker coffin was adorned with roses named in her honour at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year.</p> <p>Among the close friends and family in attendance were a small number of famous faces, including TV presenters Lorraine Kelly and Gaby Roslin. </p> <p>Deborah's husband, Sebastien Bowen, gave the eulogy during the service, while their son Hugo, 14, and daughter Eloise, 12, read poems.</p> <p>Ahead of the day James's brother Benjamin James penned an emotion tribute to his older sister on social media.</p> <p>"Saying bye is never going to be easy, but knowing you achieved more than any of us could ever dream of…and so, so much more…makes it that little bit more bearable," he said. </p> <p>"Take it easy up there. Here's to you x".</p> <p>The family <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/vale-dame-deborah" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Deborah's death on June 29th, saying she "passed away peacefully" at home where she has been receiving hospice care.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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Rare personal message from Prince William and Kate for Dame Deborah

<p>Prince William and Kate have shared a heart-warming personal message on Twitter <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/vale-dame-deborah" target="_blank" rel="noopener">following the death</a> of cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James.</p> <p>"We are so sad to hear the heartbreaking news about Dame Deborah, our thoughts are with her children, her family and her loved ones. Deborah was an inspirational and unfalteringly brave woman whose legacy will live on. W &amp; C"</p> <p>The note was signed off with the couple's initials, marking that it was personally written by William and Catherine.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are so sad to hear the heartbreaking news about Dame Deborah. Our thoughts are with her children, her family and her loved ones. </p> <p>Deborah was an inspirational and unfalteringly brave woman whose legacy will live on. W &amp; C</p> <p>— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1542069827971551234?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 29, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>Deborah James, popular British media personality, has lost her battle with bowel cancer, dying at the age of 40.</p> <p>The mother-of-two and podcaster who raised millions of dollars for charity, "passed away peacefully" at home where she had been receiving hospice care, her family has announced.</p> <p>She received huge attention for detailing her five-year fight with terminal bowel cancer on the popular BBC podcast You, Me and the Big C.</p> <p>She stepped away from her career as a deputy headteacher and began blogging about her diagnosis under the name Bowel Babe in 2017.</p> <p>Dame Deborah went on to become a columnist for The Sun and released a book, F**k You Cancer: How to Face the Big C, Live Your Life and Still Be Yourself.</p> <p>Her fundraiser, the Bowelbabe Fund, has seen more than $12 million raised for bowel cancer. Soon after the fund's launch, Dame Deborah received a damehood from the Queen with Prince William personally delivering the honour at her parents' home.</p> <p>The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge praised her fundraising achievement saying in a tweet: "Every now and then, someone captures the heart of the nation with their zest for life &amp; tenacious desire to give back to society. @bowelbabe is one of those special people."</p> <p>In a statement shared, Dame Deborah's family said: "We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Dame Deborah James; the most amazing wife, daughter, sister, mummy. Deborah passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Vale Dame Deborah

<p>Deborah James, popular British media personality, has lost her battle with bowel cancer, dying at the age of 40.</p> <p>The mother-of-two and podcaster who raised millions of dollars for charity, "passed away peacefully" at home where she had been receiving hospice care, her family has announced.</p> <p>She received huge attention for detailing her five-year fight with terminal bowel cancer on the popular BBC podcast You, Me and the Big C.</p> <p>She stepped away from her career as a deputy headteacher and began blogging about her diagnosis under the name Bowel Babe in 2017.</p> <p>Dame Deborah went on to become a columnist for The Sun and released a book, F**k You Cancer: How to Face the Big C, Live Your Life and Still Be Yourself.</p> <p>Her fundraiser, the Bowelbabe Fund, has seen more than $12 million raised for bowel cancer. Soon after the fund's launch, Dame Deborah received a damehood from the Queen with Prince William personally delivering the honour at her parents' home.</p> <p>The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge praised her fundraising achievement saying in a tweet: "Every now and then, someone captures the heart of the nation with their zest for life &amp; tenacious desire to give back to society. @bowelbabe is one of those special people."</p> <p>Upon entering end-of-life care a month ago Dame Deborah said: "I am not brave - I am not dignified going towards my death - I am simply a scared girl who is doing something she has no choice in but I know I am grateful for the life that I have had."</p> <p>In a statement shared, Dame Deborah's family said: "We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Dame Deborah James; the most amazing wife, daughter, sister, mummy. Deborah passed away peacefully today, surrounded by her family.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfXIN1-ob4X/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CfXIN1-ob4X/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Deborah James (@bowelbabe)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"Deborah, who many of you will know as Bowelbabe, was an inspiration and we are incredibly proud of her and her work and commitment to charitable campaigning, fundraising and her endless efforts to raise awareness of cancer that touched so many lives.</p> <p>"Deborah shared her experience with the world to raise awareness, break down barriers, challenge taboos and change the conversation around cancer. Even in her most challenging moments, her determination to raise money and awareness was inspiring."</p> <p>In Dame Deborah's final podcast she urged her listeners to watch for signs of bowel cancer.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Deborah James sees the rose named after her

<p dir="ltr">Podcast host Deborah James’ visit to the annual Chelsea Flower Show was made particularly special when she was able to see a rose that has been named after her.</p> <p dir="ltr">James visited the show on Tuesday with her husband, where the couple were taken on an hour-long private tour and posed for photos alongside her namesake flower.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Flowers are a reminder of our future,” James said, per the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61587714" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BBC</a>. “We plant the seed not knowing what we might see grow.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Being around nature gives us a lift and it is a reminder that life continues to blossom, even in some of the hardest places, and brings a smile to all of our faces, even in the hardest of times - particularly mine.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-08540c7c-7fff-cd53-eb12-24d742270dba"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">James also shared the news with her fans on social media several days before her visit to Chelsea, admitting that she “actually cried” when Word of Roses and the Harkness Rose Company, which bred the rose, asked if they could name the flower after her.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdyqOLdomRQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdyqOLdomRQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Deborah James (@bowelbabe)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Roses are my favourite flowers and I hope this one will brighten the smiles for all!” she wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">James said she hoped the flower might feature in her daughter Eloise’s wedding bouquet in the future.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What breaks my heart and brings me the most beautiful thought, is that this variety will and can now be grown forever, and maybe one day even Eloise might choose to have it in her wedding bouquet.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The 40-year-old journalist <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/caring/we-have-tried-everything-tv-host-stops-cancer-treatment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently revealed</a> that she would be receiving end-of-life care for her bowel cancer.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-7390d14b-7fff-e75f-e41c-3e2c2371b27b"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Following her health update, over £3 million was raised for her campaign, the Bowelbabe Fund and James received a damehood from Prince William, who visited her home to present her with the honour.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdgvKgJoPzN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdgvKgJoPzN/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Deborah James (@bowelbabe)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The sale of Dame Deborah James Roses will also contribute to her cause, with £2.50 from every rose sale being paid to the Bowelbabe campaign.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What also brings me so much joy is to know that the rose will also be incorporated into the company’s new Community Gardening Scheme which aims to get more vulnerable groups and people from underrepresented backgrounds involved in gardening,” James wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Harkness have pledged to give away 1,000 Dame Deborah James roses to community gardens across the UK this autumn time.”</p> <p dir="ltr">James described the rose variety as a “floribunda” which produces masses of white blooms with a subtle “ballet slipper pink” centre.</p> <p dir="ltr">The flowers will also be available to pre-order for delivery in Autumn 2022.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-1cded974-7fff-fe43-7693-6aae9420c666"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @bowelbabe (Instagram)</em></p>

Caring

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William and Kate share heartbreaking message for dying journalist

<p>Prince William and Kate Middleton have shared an emotional message of support for UK journalist Deborah James, after she revealed she was receiving end-of-life care for terminal cancer.</p> <p>The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge thanked the 40-year-old woman for her "tireless effort" in raising awareness of bowel cancer, and donated towards her foundation, Bowel Babe Fund.</p> <p>"Every now and then, someone captures the heart of the nation with their zest for life &amp; tenacious desire to give back to society," the royal couple wrote in an official statement on Twitter.</p> <p>"@bowelbabe is one of those special people. Her tireless efforts to raise awareness of bowel cancer &amp; end the stigma of treatment are inspiring."</p> <p>William and Kate went on to offer their condolences for Deborah and her ongoing cancer battle, while sharing they have made a donation of an unspecified amount to her cause. </p> <p>"We are so sad to hear her recent update but pleased to support the @bowelbabef, which will benefit the @royalmarsdenNHS among others," the statement continued.</p> <p>"Deborah, our thoughts are with you, your family and your friends. Thank you for giving hope to so many who are living with cancer. W &amp; C."</p> <p>Prince William is a patron of Royal Marsden, a specialist cancer hospital in London, where Deborah has previously received treatment. </p> <p>Deborah James, a podcast host and media personality, shared a <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/we-have-tried-everything-tv-host-stops-cancer-treatment" target="_blank" rel="noopener">devastating health update</a> earlier this week, saying she will be spending what time she has left at home with her family. </p> <p>In a statement she said, "We have tried everything, but my body simply isn't playing ball. My active care has stopped and I am now moved to hospice at home care, with my incredible family all around me and the focus is on making sure I'm not in pain and spending time with them."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Lauren Hutton poses topless

<p dir="ltr">With a modelling career spanning six decades, Lauren Hutton is well aware of how youth is prioritised in the industry and has shared an insight into what it’s like to continue working at 78.</p> <p dir="ltr">The model and actress, styling a Gucci blazer and plants (and nothing else) on the May issue of <em>Harper's Bazaar</em>, spoke about her career, skincare routine and what it was like to jump back into modelling by snagging the biggest modelling contract in history.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was about to become 30, and I knew I was about to expire, and wanted to protect myself with a contract that would guarantee I kept working for years to come,” she told the publication.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b58eebf3-7fff-35da-1679-7d5a98b1ffa4"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“So I got a contract with Revlon. At the time, it was the biggest one in modelling history.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcxqPN6uICx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CcxqPN6uICx/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Harper's BAZAAR (@harpersbazaarus)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">When she began modelling again at 40 after taking a break for her career in film, she recalled telling her photographer, Steven Meisel, she wouldn’t “try and look younger”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And he said, ‘I love that. That’s why I’m working with you’,” Hutton said.</p> <p dir="ltr">As for cosmetic procedures, Hutton said it’s “a real thin line”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There are people who I find hard to look at today. Their faces don’t look like the people I once knew,” she added.</p> <p dir="ltr">With that in mind, Hutton revealed that she doesn’t spend too much time on skincare.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The only beauty ritual I have is washing my face with soap and water,” she said. “It’s horrifying.” </p> <p dir="ltr">The few products she does use include <a href="https://www.priceline.com.au/strivectin-s-t-a-r-light-retinol-night-oil-30-ml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">StriVectin S.T.A.R. Light Retinol Night Oil</a> ($155), and the leaves of her aloe plant, which she cuts open before putting on her face and “décolletage”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I put castor oil in my hair too,” she added. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I just put it on my fingertips and rub it all over my scalp, and it makes my hair a little less dry and nasty.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Though she still models, Hutton admitted “it’s embarrassing” to be in front of a camera now.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You feel strange. You become self-conscious. Modelling is like playing the violin: You have to practise every day,” she added, noting that she does have a way of working around it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Now, when I look at the camera, I’ve learned to picture my lover’s face, my godkids’ faces, my friends’ - whoever I need there,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">To read the full interview with <em>Harper’s Bazaar</em>, click <a href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a39697802/0122-0129-lauren-hutton-on-going-your-own-way-may-2022/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-78e397dd-7fff-523d-abc3-fb8d6a7fadf4"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @harpersbazaaraus (Instagram)</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Deborah Hutton shines at 57: Here’s how you can keep vibrant skin too

<p>Deborah Hutton has proven that she is still shining and glowing at 57. </p> <p>The former editor of Women’s Weekly has even divulged her fanciful secret that helps keep her skin in check without all the fancy facials and pricey products - and it is a milk thistle. </p> <p>“I take milk thistle, because I love my wine!” Deborah wrote in a re-surfaced post on her website,<em> <strong><a rel="noopener" href="https://balancebydeborahhutton.com.au/my-beauty-secrets/" target="_blank">Balance by Deborah Hutton</a>.</strong></em></p> <p>“A naturopath told me recently that this magic flower (also known as St Mary's Thistle) is brilliant for supporting the regeneration of liver cells.”</p> <p>The product is renowned for working wonders on a hangover, when you might have lacklustre and dull skin. </p> <p>When it comes to her skincare, Deborah said she has learned throughout the years that staying with the same routine religiously has been the key to keeping the vitality and youthfulness of her skin.</p> <p>“Stick to a daily skincare regime - cleanse, hydrate and protect,” she said.</p> <p>Deborah added that a daily broad spectrum sunscreen to protect her from the harmful UVA and UVB rays is also thrown into her daily regime, as well as regular exfoliating.</p> <p>The 57-year-old magazine cover model said with skincare, everything starts from within so what you’re eating and drinking has a major impact. </p> <p>Hutton noted she drinks between 1.5 and two litres of water each day, while avoiding fatty foods and sugar where possible.</p> <p>“I’m far from perfect and love my indulgences, but I generally have a fairly healthy diet - chicken, fish, salads etc - and steer clear of deep-fried food, soft drinks and too many sweets,” she explained. </p> <p>Deborah supplements her daily diet with magnesium, Vitamin C, Omega 3, Vitamin B, Anthogenol and Silica.</p> <p>“I’m a hopeless sleeper. I have to turn all the gadgets off, the phone off and the TV off, at least an hour before I go to bed,” she said to the<span> </span><em><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/health/deborah-hutton-reveals-her-agedefying-health-and-fitness-secrets/news-story/ea9e6cb2ec3ca7e271810e9e8a235c81" target="_blank">Sunday Telegraph</a>. </em></p> <p>“Camomile tea is a thing that I do every night, and I use a sleeping mask, I take melatonin - a natural hormone - which helps, but I really am a dreadful sleeper.”</p> <p>The only upside to this, she said, is that she's regularly up by 5am, when she catches up on her meditation. </p> <p>Deborah typically goes to the gym twice a week, and includes regular cardio and daily walks.</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery to see Deborah Hutton's glowing skin. </p>

Body