Amy Dowden has accepted being made an MBE for her services to Crohn’s disease “on behalf” of all those who live with the inflammatory bowel disease. Her sunny personality, lilting Welsh accent and sparkling dance moves won her legions of fans as a professional on Strictly Come Dancing, but it has been her health struggles that have endeared her even further to the general public. As an advocate and ambassador for charity Crohn’s & Colitis UK, she has been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours for her services to fundraising and raising awareness of the disease.
The 33-year-old from Caerphilly told the PA news agency: “I am still in shock, but so thrilled to be made a Member of the Order of the British Empire, it is beyond my wildest dreams. Amy Dowden has been made an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours (Doug Peters/PA) “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful NHS staff who have helped me over the years and Crohn’s & Colitis UK who do so much to support fellow sufferers.” The dancer has also had a high-profile battle with breast cancer and has undergone a mastectomy and chemotherapy.
She first found a lump in her breast the day before going to the Maldives on her honeymoon with fellow professional dancer Ben Jones and was subsequently diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. She recently finished chemotherapy and tests show she has “no evidence of disease”. In 2019, Dowden reveale.