“My sisters had an incredible zest for life”: Made in Chelsea's James Dunmore

Hi James! Thank you for chatting to us. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? 

Howdy, I’m James, I’m 32 years old and I’m most well-known for featuring in Made in Chelsea some years back. Nowadays, I have a renewable energy company that produces both wind and solar power. I love all things sport, being in the outdoors and animals, especially my two dogs Marley and Kody.  

What was your childhood like growing up with cystic fibrosis in the family? 

Growing up with my two sisters having CF is all I know, so to me, my childhood felt completely ‘normal’. Of course, there were parts that I knew other people didn’t have to deal with, such as the vast amounts of medication, physio and hospital visits. But to me, this all felt like everyday life.  

CF can take lives far too prematurely, so my parents tried their hardest to ensure we lived life to the fullest and had no regrets. In many ways my parents lived out of their means in order to spoil us and allow us to make amazing memories. So for that, I am eternally grateful.   

And tell us about your sisters, Jodi and Lucinda. What are your favourite memories of them? 

Above all, my sisters were amazing people. They both shared an unbelievable outlook on life and had an incredible zest for life despite living with CF. Their personalities were incredibly infectious and left lasting impressions on everyone they met. My favourite memories of my sisters are being together as a family, laughing and messing around on holiday with not a care in the world.  

They sound like incredible people. How did you and your family cope with the grief when you lost them? 

I’m not entirely sure how we coped in the early days if I’m honest. I think just taking every day as it came, remaining close to each other, and being there to support each other is about all you can really do. My parents have always made sure that we speak about my sisters, sharing stories and memories and remembering the good times. As time goes on you evolve to a certain extent, learning how best to cope with the grief and what works for you. And with that, in time, it becomes part of you, shapes how your life goes forward and influences the decisions you make. 

What would be your advice to other siblings who have lost a loved one? 

I think the most important thing is to keep sharing memories and talking about the loved one. I truly feel this is imperative to learning to cope and it ensures they don’t become a taboo subject that must not be spoken about. I am also a massive believer in turning a negative situation into a positive. Completing challenges or hosting events in their memory is a great way to not only honour your loved one, but is also very cathartic. 

You’ve done lots to raise awareness and funds in their memory. What does this mean to you? 

Continuing to raise awareness of CF is really important to me. The amazing strides that have been made in treatments in the time since my sisters passed away is astounding and a true reflection of what is possible with increased awareness and funds.  

Looking to the future, what are your hopes for the CF community? 

I would of course love to see a cure for CF and believe it’s entirely possible in my lifetime. It would also be great to see further advancements in medication and treatments, finding new ways to treat and repair CF lung damage so that everyone with CF can live healthier and longer lives. 

Thank you so much for your support, James, and for sharing your story with us.  

If you are struggling with bereavement and would like to talk to someone, you can call our Helpline on 0300 373 1000 or email [email protected]. If you’d like to find out more about how you can remember someone special, please email [email protected].