UK columnist, broadcaster and cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James passed away last week but she has left a lasting legacy.

Since her diagnosis in 2016, Dame Deborah has been raising awareness of bowel cancer, particularly in people diagnosed at a younger age. She’s also noted for opening up the conversation surrounding cancer with her column in The Sun ‘Things Cancer Made Me Say’ and BBC Radio 5Livepodcast ‘You, Me and the Big C.’

Deborah received an outpouring of goodwill from the public and those in the spotlight in response to her story. Deborah’s final wish was to raise money for projects close to her heart, including clinical trials, personalised medicine and awareness campaigns.

In May 2022, Deborah launched the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK. In recent weeks over £6.5 million has been raised for the Fund through donations. The Fund will support causes and projects that Deborah was passionate about, including working with others such as the Institute of Cancer Research, The Royal Marsden and Bowel Cancer UK.

WEPA UK announced its first collaboration with supermarket Tesco in June, to support Dame Deborah’s campaign. All packaging across Tesco’s own brand toilet paper range will soon feature information about the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer and when to speak to a doctor.

The packs will be available from 25th July online and 17th October in-store. Cancer Research UK advises anyone who notices any unusual changes to their health or something that isn’t going away should tell their doctor. Tesco shoppers are also able to speak to their Tesco pharmacist can provide information and advice on cancer.WEPA UK and Tesco have also pledged to donate a combined total sum of £300k to the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, and this move is designed to increase awareness of the signs and encourage people to seek help . Nearly 43,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK, and early diagnosis is key. When bowel cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, treatment is much more likely to be successful.

WEPA UK has acted as Tesco’s own label toilet paper manufacturer for 30 years, and this act is one of many collaborations between the two companies.

Carl Mitchell, Sales Director at WEPA, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Tesco and Dame Deborah’s legacy to raise awareness of bowel cancer. As the largest supermarket in the UK, this act of adding common symptoms to toilet roll packaging will reach so many people and could potentially save lives.

“Our partnership with Tesco has lasted several years, and we’re glad we can produce something so positive, with the potential to make a difference across the UK.”

If you want to know more about Dame Deborah James, the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK and to find out how to donate, head over to https://www.bowelbabe.org/

Tesco and WEPA UK will each donate £150,000 in relation to the sale of Tesco Luxury Soft toilet roll sold in Tesco stores between 17/10/22 and 1/3/23 and on Tesco.com between 25/7/22 and 1/3/23 to the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK. Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), in Scotland (SC041666), in Jersey (247) and in the Isle of Man (1103).