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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Louise Lavigueur

Dame Deborah James' mum models Christmas jumper as bereaved family launch fundraiser

Dame Deborah James' mum has modelled a limited edition Christmas jumper to continue her 'Rebellious Hope' fashion fundraiser this festive season.

The Bowel Babe charity fundraiser and former headteacher passed away in June, following a five-year-long battle with stage four bowel cancer.

Throughout her illness she devoted her time and energy to raising funds for bowel cancer — establishing Bowel Babe — and opening up about the often taboo topics of 'bowels' and 'poo' on her co-hosted podcast 'You Me and The Big C'.

But by far one of her many greatest fundraising achievements — for which there were many including a bowel cancer symptoms loo roll campaign fulfilled after her untimely death — came in her final months as she launched a T-shirt campaign with In The Style for her BowelBabe fundraising a staggering £1.68million.

Deborah James' mum Heather shares festive fashion update for Rebellious Hope campaign (@BowelGran/Instagram)
Deborah's fundraising inspired a phenomenal response from the public with millions raised for bowel cancer charity (Bowelbabe/Instagram)

Mum Heather, 65, known as 'Bowel Gran' shared a post modelling one of the jumpers, reading the words 'Rebellious Hope' with holly adorned to the lettering as part of their family's festive fundraising campaign.

Also showing off the updated festive design was Deborah's daughter Eloise and dad Alastair.

Heather's post on Instagram read: 'We are all so pleased to support the launch of the Rebellious Hope Christmas jumper.

''Deborah loved the build-up to Christmas and had great fun choosing and wearing Christmas jumpers over the years - even persuading her father to wear them!

Deborah's daughter Eloise poses in the updated Christmas-designed jumper (@Bowelbabe/Instagram)
Dame Deborah's family are preparing for their first Christmas without her (@Bowelbabe/Instagram)

''We will all miss Deborah’s enthusiasm and zest for life over this first Christmas since her death but are determined to have an enjoyable time living with the rebellious hope that was so important to her.''

'The jumper is available @inthestyle and 100 per cent of profits will go to @bowelbabefund.'

Eloise previously posed with mum Deborah when the originals were released.

From her BowelBabe account, her family updated followers and continued to echo Deborah's own incredible ability to consider others despite what they themselves are going through.

Deborah 'loved Christmas' and so the family are going to celebrate but it will be tough as they all 'miss her so much' (@Bowelbabe/Instagram)
Deborah's dad even got in on the Christmas jumper action (@BowelGran/Instagram)

They wrote: 'Always have 'Rebellious Hope': We are so excited to announce this very special, limited edition Christmas jumper launched by In The Style with 100% of profits going directly to the @bowelbabefund.

''We know Debs would have absolutely LOVED them. She enjoyed the Christmas magic, decorating the (too tall!) tree, dressing up in sequined mini dresses or in matching Christmas jumpers - celebrating life and making memories."

''We hope this jumper can carry on a bit of her light and magic. She will be so missed this year. A lot of people, for whatever reason, find Christmas can be too much. And let's face it, it is. There is a lot of pressure to "make the most of it".

Eloise and Deborah with the original designed T-shirts (@Bowelbabe/Instagram)
Deborah raised not just funds but awareness of how to spot bowel cancer symptoms (Deborah James/Instagram)

''So whatever your Christmas might look like, we are sending you so much love. We hope that the message of 'Rebellious Hope' might help keep you going - to find light and positivity in moments of darkness, and to hold onto hope and nurture it when you find it."

The lengthy update signed off as they admitted they have been 'blown away' by the support from the T-shirts and told followers they 'hope they bring you as much joy wearing it as it did for Debs to design it'.

The post ended by adding: ''We have raised over £1.68m for the @bowelbabefund through the sale of the T-shirts and collection, which will support causes and projects that Deborah was passionate about (more to come on this soon!!)"

To order a festive jumper or any items in Deborah's collection head to In The Style here.

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