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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Sami Quadri and Elly Blake

Deborah James thanks dad for ‘holding her up’ following Royal Ascot trip

Dame Deborah James thanked her dad for “holding me up” following a trip to Royal Ascot.

The 40-year-old BBC podcaster, who has stage 4 bowel cancer, said she was in “limbo land” after spending the day out at the racecourse with her family on Thursday.

It comes after she revealed doctors do not know how much longer she has left to live and was discharged from hospital to receive end-of-life care at home last month.

Following her trip to Royal Ascot, she told her Instagram followers that she was “knackered” but thanked her dad for “holding me up” and said that she had really enjoyed the “special day” out with her family.

Posting a picture of the pair together, she wrote: "I may be knackered today from Ascot yesterday, but dad is there to hold me up."

In another post about the trip, she said: “I find myself living in limbo land, not really knowing what the future holds and for how long.

“It’s a very stressful uncertain place to be because when I was discharged from hospital over a month ago I was given days, maybe a week to live. And I felt like it.”

James added: “But as we all know life doesn’t go according to plan, so I’m just greatful for what ever extra time, the powers that be have decided to grant me.

“So despite the unnerving tears, I look at the sunshine, smile, and think, wow, life is a funny thing isn’t it!! Better enjoy it!”

Last night, Dame Deborah shared a picture in one of her Rebellious Hope T-shirts, alongside her husband and dad, in a bid to raise £1 million for her cancer fund.

Originally setting a fundraising target of £250,000, the BowelBabe fund for Caner UK has now surpassed a staggering £6.7 million.

The T-shirt, which has the phrase ‘Rebellious Hope’ printed across the front, is part of her In The Style collection she has launched to raise money for charity.

The mum-of-two said 100 per cent of the profits from her t-shirts will go to her fund, which supports Cancer Research UK, The Royal Marsden and Bowel Cancer UK.

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