Emily & Nick set up the Duchenne Children’s Trust in 2012, after their son Eli was diagnosed with Duchenne. Nick is a partner in restaurant, film and property businesses.
Our patrons
Our patrons are prominent figures who help to raise awareness and support for Duchenne UK.
Owen Farrell is an English professional rugby union player, currently captain of RFU Championship side Saracens and is captain of the England National Team. He has been part of helping promote awareness of DMD since the start of Jack Johnson’s diagnosis.
“My dad and Jack’s dad played together at Wigan and our families are very close,” says Owen. “The charity has been a huge part of our family’s lives. Everyone who donates or who tells their friends and they then go on to spread awareness or raise money, then they are helping. If I can help spread awareness by doing the salute when I kick a goal to do this, it’s the least I can do.”
Jonathan Whitworth, Managing Director of DSales (UK) Ltd, is a passionate supporter of Joining Jack and Duchenne UK, having made the cause his company’s corporate charity and has personally taken part in a number of Joining Jack events.
“Having become aware of Joining Jack after meeting Andy at a charity fundraiser, I could not imagine a more worthy cause for our company to support. Jack’s plight and that of other boys with this crippling condition, could not fail to move the hardest of hearts. As a family man myself with young children, two of whom are type one diabetic, I can fully sympathise with Jack’s parents and their efforts to find a cure. I have got to know Andy and Alex very well over the last few years and don’t know anyone who works as hard for a cause as they do. I hope as many people as possible can help raise awareness and help end the terrible suffering that DMD causes.”
Andy Farrell is the former Wigan and Great Britain captain, England rugby union coach and current assistant Ireland coach. “I feel honoured to be an Ambassador for Duchenne UK; a charity set up to help raise much-needed awareness of the fatal disease Duchenne muscular dystrophy”.
“When Andy Johnson (of Joining Jack) asked me to help the first thing that came to mind was my own two sons, as this mainly affects boys, and if anything was ever to happen to them I would hope and pray that I would also get support from friends. AJ has been a great friend since we started to play rugby together and to help him with this charity is a great privilege.”
Kris Radlinski is a former Wigan and Great Britain rugby league star and current Rugby General Manager.
“Some people wander through life searching for answers as to where they fit into it and what’s it all about. Andy and Alex’s life has been simplified in some ways, as their path has been made very clear. They need to make Jack’s and James’s life happy and create memories. It’s our job to ensure they have the opportunity to do this by helping them in whatever way we can. So I urge you to join me in working with Duchenne UK.”
Peter Serafinowicz is an actor, comedian, writer, composer, voice artist, and director. He has appeared in film (Phantom Menace), on television (Spaced, Peter Serafinowicz Show) and on the radio since the early 90’s. His first book, A Billion Jokes (Volume One) was published in 2012.
Sarah Alexander is an actress, known for her roles in British comedy series such as Armstrong and Miller, Smack the Pony, Coupling, The Worst Week of My Life, Jonathan Creek, Me & Mrs Jones and Green Wing.
Sara Parker Bowles is a fashion writer. She previously worked at Vogue and is now Associate Editor at Harper’s Bazaar.
Having worked at Goldman Sachs and UBS Ben Levine then co-founded LMR Partners in 2009, a London based boutique asset management business. Ben graduated from Cambridge in Economics in 1996 and went on complete his MSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics at the LSE.
He lives in London with his wife Miranda and three young children.
Mary Nightingale is one of the main anchors of the ITN Evening news. Her career began in business journalism and she has also presented Wish You Were Here and many other popular programmes.
Alex Bilmes is the Editor of British Esquire.
Formerly Features Director of British GQ and Contributing Editor to British Vogue, Bilmes is an award-winning journalist and has written for numerous magazines and newspapers including The Spectator, The Observer, The Times, The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph.
Clare Runacres’ voice is known to millions of BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music listeners, where she reads the news. She is a journalist who has worked in broadcasting for more than 20 years covering stories from the Iraq war to the London Olympics, and has even read the Shipping Forecast on Radio 4. She provides voluntary support for the Duchenne UK communications team. Clare has been a committed member of the Duchenne Dash support staff for many years. In 2017 she took part in the ride and wrote a blog about her experiences.
Peter Williams is the Founder & CEO of UK clothing brand Jack Wills, a global brand trading from c.100 company owned stores in Europe, North America and Asia, with franchises across the Middle East. Peter is also a major support of Malaria No More UK.
Laura Williams is a jewellery designer.
