Heather James has penned a heartfelt tribute to her daughter Deborah, who lost her life to bowel cancer two years ago today.
The mother-of-two passed away at the age of 40 in June 2022 following a five-year battle with the illness, and used her diagnosis to raise awareness of the disease and set up the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, which has raised more than £12 million.
The campaigner's parents are today remembering their daughter 'on the beautiful Dorset coastline at Sandbanks' - where Heather, 66, and Deborah visited shortly before her death.
Taking to her Instagram, Heather also reflected on the 'amazing legacy' their daughter left behind as she shared a carousel of photos featuring her.
One image showed a young Deborah smiling as she leaned over a sofa and gazed into the distance.
Heather James has penned a heartfelt tribute to her daughter Deborah, who lost her life to bowel cancer two years ago today
Another pictured Heather and Deborah together, sat in front of beach, in colourful ensembles.
'Deborah died two years ago today and left a big hole in our hearts,' she wrote.
'I don't think it gets any easier when you lose a loved one, in fact the longer time goes on the greater the need to talk to Deborah and tell her how she is having such an impact on peoples lives and how much I miss her.
'Personally the last year has been challenging but supported by family and all of you I am learning how to cope whilst always remembering Deborah's words of advice - keep going Mum and live life - you only get one chance.'
Heather promised the late Deborah that she is 'loved and missed and will always be in our hearts and lives forever'.
'The amazing legacy Deborah left and worked tirelessly for makes the family proud with the Bowelbabe fund having raised more than £16m with £12m already committed to nine pioneering projects in line with her wishes to support leading edge research as well as awareness and early diagnosis,' she penned.
'A huge thank you to those who have supported the fund which working with CRUK we will continue to grow and spread awareness as Deborah would have wanted.'
Earlier this month, Heather also revealedshe is 'dreading' the second anniversary of the bowel cancer campaigner's death as she and her husbandAlistair, 68, reflected on her final weeks on Loose Women.
Another in the post pictured Heather and Deborah together, sat in front of beach, in colourful ensembles
Heather promised the late Deborah that she is 'loved and missed and will always be in our hearts and lives forever'
To celebrate their daughters legacy, Heather, 66, and Alistair James, 68, reflected on their daughter's final weeks on Loose Women this month
Heather opened up about how hard Deborah's anniversaries are becoming, saying she is getting flashbacks to all the last moments they shared in the final seven weeks leading up to her passing
WHAT IS BOWEL CANCER?
Bowel cancer is found anywhere in the large bowel, which includes the colon and rectum.
Around 43,000 Brits are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year.
Symptoms include:
- Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
- Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
- Blood in your poo, which may look red or black
- Bleeding from your bottom
- Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you've just been to the toilet
- Tummy pain
- A lump in your tummy
- Bloating
- Losing weight without trying
- Feeling very tired for no reason
Source: NHS and Cancer Research UK
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Heather opened up about how hard Deborah's anniversaries are becoming, saying she is getting flashbacks to all the last moments they shared in the final seven weeks leading up to her passing.
She said: 'Anniversaries are hard, this one I was dreading. It would of been Friday next week that she would of died and the lead up to it, seven weeks lead up, from she came home, we had great times, but I also have flashbacks of the last time we did this and the last time we did that. '
Alistair added: 'This time of year she really enjoyed. She loved her tennis, going to Ascot, she loved dressing up, all these dates happen on the lead up to the period of her death.'
They remembered it took them four hours to get her ready for her last visit to Ascot in 2022, saying she was 'determined' to go but she was in 'a lot of pain'.
Heather said: 'Two nights before she had ordered new shoes online but because she had swollen feet she ordered three sizes bigger, of course they came but they were so long not wider.
'She said ''I look ridiculous but I do love them, and I know what you are going to say, I'm not going to be here to wear them'', but her brother went back to London, got the next size down and she wore them, she loved those shoes.
'She wore them in her wheelchair, but of course she snuck the handbag to match as well.'
Heather wore her daughters earrings on the show becauseDeborah also said to her she should 'make a statement' with her jewelry.
Dame Deborah James attended Royal Ascot 2022 at Ascot Racecourse on June 15 - pictured at the event
She said: 'So, I do have her big earrings but Eloise [Deborah's daughter] will eventually have them all.'
Speaking aboutDeborah's legacy, Alistar said his daughters 'huge smile' broke down barriers and got the message across to know your own body.
He added: 'She was an ordinary person, but she was a teacher and like a lot of great teachers she was able to talk and communicate, she used that skill.'
Heather added: 'And the awareness, her legacy was the awareness and if we can keep that going, I think that is what Deborah is saying to me and us as a family to keep going.
'I believe Deborah was given to us and she did her time her on Earth and achieved what was meant to be, so I accept that but I do also believe that she loved life so much that we have to honour that and love life as well.'
