Dame Deborah James鈥檚 father: "We made the promises to Deborah that we would carry on the legacy."
Deborah James's family have issued an open letter to the UK鈥檚 political party leaders.
The family of Dame Deborah James, aka 鈥楤owelbabe鈥�, who died of bowel cancer in 2022, have issued an open letter to the UK鈥檚 political party leaders.
They are urging politicians to make the upcoming general election a landmark moment for people affected by cancer. The family is joining Cancer Research UK鈥檚 call for the UK government to publish a long-term cancer strategy for England within one year of the general election.
Deborah鈥檚 father Alistair James told 5 Live鈥檚 Rachel Burden: 鈥淲e made the promises to Deborah that we would carry on the legacy鈥�.
He said that one of Deborah鈥檚 key messages in her final weeks was: "Don't let my death mock up the rest of your lives."
And to the children: "Don't let it be an excuse for failure.鈥�
鈥淩emember me, celebrate me, enjoy me, now get on with your lives."
鈥淲e're lucky, we can still talk about her, and we can talk about her almost as a living person and that's her legacy,鈥� says Alistair.
The Department of Health and Social Care says record numbers of people have been treated for cancer in the last two years. But recent analysis by the 蘑菇短视频 revealed cancer waiting times in England last year were the worst on record.
This clip is originally from 5 Live Breakfast on Thursday 25th April 2024.
