Sally Nugent of BBC Breakfast held back tears as she paid a heartfelt tribute to Deborah James today. On Monday, the 40-year-old author, podcaster, and activist announced on social media that she had transitioned to hospice-at-home care as part of her struggle with colon cancer.

During show, Sally and Dan Walker told viewers of Deborah’s latest update.

Dan said, “Now, many of you will know Deborah James.

“She is the presenter of You, Me and the Big C podcast and she’s been on this program many times as well.

“We have been fortunate enough to have her not only on the sofa, but during the pandemic we spoke to her on numerous occasions, didn’t we?”

Sally added, “Sadly, Deborah – who was diagnosed with bowel cancer five years ago – shared a message on her Instagram account yesterday saying she’s now been moved to hospice-at-home care.

Sally was overcome with emotion as she read the message, and Dan had to take over since her voice was so thick with tears.

He said, “Deborah has now announced she’s set up the Bowel Babe fund in her name, to try and raise money for cancer research.

“She included links to some of the charities closer to her, including Cancer Research UK, The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and Bowel Cancer UK.

Sally noded as he continued, “I think just over £700,000 already in the last few hours since she put that out last night, which is an incredible amount of money.

“I think the point was she wanted people to buy her a drink, but buy her a drink in terms of giving money to those charities.”

Deborah said in a statement, “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.

“Nobody knows how long I’ve got left but I’m not able to walk, I’m sleeping most of the days, and most things I took for granted are pipe dreams.

“I know we have left no stone unturned. But even with all the innovative cancer drugs in the world or some magic new breakthrough, my body just can’t continue anymore.”

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