Adele Roberts: 'Beating cancer has given me a new mission in life'

Adele Roberts has shared her desire to help others after ‘reclaiming’ her body from cancer.

The TV personality, 45, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021 for which she underwent colostomy surgery and has since been living with a stoma bag, which she has lovingly nicknamed “Audrey”.

She was given the all-clear in June 2022, but never takes a day for granted saying “I just want to spend my life now doing things with purpose” and to share her skills to help and inspire others facing their own challenges.

Speaking to the Standard, she said: “My next challenge is I’m taking on the six major marathons of the world so I begin in Berlin at the end of this month and again, just to show what’s possible post-cancer and show what’s possible with a stoma. I intend to set a new Guinness Record – I’ve got the current one, but I aim to go even faster and show that even though we go through tough times you can come out fitter, stronger and better on the other side because that’s how I feel.

“Running a marathon anyway is hard, but running a marathon with a stoma is like ‘what are you doing Adele?’ It’s like spinning plates because you’ve got to fuel body enough to get round the marathon but then everything you eat and drink comes out into your bag. So it’s a balance of eating and fuelling enough, getting enough toilet stops in and then also running a marathon at the same time as well.

“I’m giving myself a lot to do, but it makes me realise how amazing stomas are. They are medical marvels and I feel like I’ve got a second chance at life and I feel like I want to live that life to the full. So not letting a stoma stop me. I’m letting it help me and enhance me; I feel like it’s my super power.”

For those wondering, the former BBC Radio One DJ has a “banging” playlist to help motivate her as she trains which she says is themed around the cities she is running.

“The first is Berlin and they’re big on techno so I’ve got a lot of banging techno. I’ve also got a lot of disco because Donna Summer did a lot of her recording there. I’m a bit geeky like that!” she laughed.

“I just want to spend my life now doing things with purpose if there’s anyway that I can use my DJ skills or my presenting skills to give back that’s all I care about. I feel like I’ve got a new mission in life now to help others as I’ve been helping myself.”

Her desire to give back has seen her team up with the National Lottery for their 30th Birthday celebrations supporting cancer charity Maggie's.

The former I’m A Celebrity and Dancing On Ice contestant has been a supporter of Maggie's for several years, and met with the charity’s chief executive of 28 years Dame Laura Lee to discuss the importance of Maggie's centres across the UK, which have received more than £3 million in National Lottery funding.

Maggie's was the vision of Maggie Keswick Jencks, who had an idea for a different type of cancer care as she lived with advanced cancer for two years.

She died in 1995, but Dame Laura, who was Ms Keswick’s nurse and friend, worked with Keswick’s family to ensure her vision became a reality.

To mark the 30th anniversary of the first draw in 1994, The National Lottery is celebrating 30 inspirational people - Game Changers - who have achieved amazing things across the UK in the last 30 years, with the help of National Lottery funding.

28 Game Changers will be revealed in September and October at four installations which will focus on an area of National Lottery funding including, the arts & film, heritage, sport and community.

The final two Game Changers will be announced on The National Lottery's New Year's Eve Big Bash which will broadcast on ITV on December 31.

The National Lottery has been changing lives every day for the past 30 years, funding thousands of projects which help build resilient, inclusive and environmentally sustainable communities and create healthier and happier lives within a flourishing society.

“I’m so honoured to be shouting about these incredible Game Changers, especially Dame Laura Lee,” Roberts said of her involvement.

Adding: “I didn’t realise until recently that £30m a week is raised and given to good causes thanks to National Lottery players so that’s going to make me play it even more now.”

To find out more about the National Lottery’s work and the 28 Game Changers, visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk/gamechangers