Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
Encyclopedia
Muscular Dystrophy Campaign is a British
medical research
charity
dedicated to the curing of the neurological condition muscular dystrophy
. It was founded as the Muscular Dystrophy Group in 1959 and changed its name to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in 1999.
The charities President is Sue Barker
, who took the role over for Lord Attenborough
in 2004. Attenborough is now one of the charity's Honorary Life Presidents, along with the eminent neurologist Lord Walton of Detchant. Mark Speight
, who died April 2008, was the President of the charity’s annual Young Pavement Artists Competition.
Prince Philip was appointed Patron of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in 1966.
The artist Jonathan Yeo
was commissioned to paint his portrait by the charity in 2007. The portrait featured throughout ITV’s two part documentary, The Duke: A Portrait of Prince Philip. The portrait was originally launched in January 2008 and now hangs on the wall at the charity's headquarters in London.
In 2003 it was the supermarket chain Somerfield's charity of the year. The charity has also been charity of the year for Norwich Union, Makro and Prudential.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
medical research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
dedicated to the curing of the neurological condition muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy
Muscular dystrophy is a group of muscle diseases that weaken the musculoskeletal system and hamper locomotion. Muscular dystrophies are characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins, and the death of muscle cells and tissue.In the 1860s, descriptions of boys who...
. It was founded as the Muscular Dystrophy Group in 1959 and changed its name to the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in 1999.
The charities President is Sue Barker
Sue Barker
Susan Barker, MBE is an English television presenter and former professional tennis player. During her tennis career, she won the women's singles title at the French Open and reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 3...
, who took the role over for Lord Attenborough
Richard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
in 2004. Attenborough is now one of the charity's Honorary Life Presidents, along with the eminent neurologist Lord Walton of Detchant. Mark Speight
Mark Speight
Mark Warwick Fordham Speight was an English television presenter, best known as the host of children's art programme SMart. Speight grew up in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, and left school at 16 to become a cartoonist...
, who died April 2008, was the President of the charity’s annual Young Pavement Artists Competition.
Prince Philip was appointed Patron of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in 1966.
The artist Jonathan Yeo
Jonathan Yeo
Jonathan Yeo is a British artist who rose to prominence in the 2000s as a contemporary portraitist, responsible for iconic paintings of Nicole Kidman, Dennis Hopper, Prince Philip, Erin O'Connor, Tony Blair, and David Cameron among his sitters...
was commissioned to paint his portrait by the charity in 2007. The portrait featured throughout ITV’s two part documentary, The Duke: A Portrait of Prince Philip. The portrait was originally launched in January 2008 and now hangs on the wall at the charity's headquarters in London.
In 2003 it was the supermarket chain Somerfield's charity of the year. The charity has also been charity of the year for Norwich Union, Makro and Prudential.