Martin Bashir, the award-winning journalist, has become patron for Action Duchenne, the only UK charity dedicated solely to raising awareness and funds for research into a cure and providing support for families living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
The disease affects one in 3,500 male births in the UK, and is the most common and severe type of muscular dystrophy. Sufferers are diagnosed, usually, by the age of five and rarely live past their twenties. Martin’s own brother Tommy died from Duchenne at the age of 29. Since being established in 2001, the charity has successfully campaigned to increase awareness of the disease to improve standards of care and raised several millions of pounds to fund medical research and partnerships. Action Duchenne has recently donated over £160,000 to Royal Holloway to support a ground-breaking project to develop a process for delivering full length dystrophin, which could provide effectively provide a cure.
Born and educated in the UK, Martin Bashir currently hosts his own daily news broadcast based in New York, having joined NBC in 2010 after spending six years at ABC. He is best known for conducting a series of exclusive interviews and making ground-breaking landmark discoveries. His career has involved work on a wide range of television and radio programmes including Panorama, Public Eye, The Midnight Hour, Sunday and Pick of the Week. He has written for many publications including The Financial Times, The Sunday Times, The Sunday Express and the Tatler. He has won numerous awards for his work including three BAFTA nominations, five Royal Television Society Awards and collected a BAFTA award for his interview with the late Princess Diana.
Martin Bashir said; “I am delighted and honoured to have been invited to become a Patron of Action Duchenne. I know something of the devastating effects of this disease having cared for my brother Tommy, who was born with Duchenne. It ultimately took his life but his courage made our family realise that we too needed to do what we can to encourage research, raise funds and support families who confront this condition with such bravery and resolve. I hope that as Patron I will be able to partner with individuals and families who must live with the condition.”
Martin also supports the work of Charley’s Fund, a US charitable organisation which is seeking to find a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Nick Catlin, Founder & Head of Research at Action Duchenne said; “We have a large number of dedicated and active supporters who work tirelessly to help our cause. Martin becoming a Patron gives us a fantastic boost and shows how people in the public eye can help families that are affected by this devastating, life-limiting condition. We are very grateful to all our supporters and will continue to focus on our goal of finding a cure and effective treatment for those living with Duchenne and their families, which is now close to becoming a reality.”
He joins Helena Bonham Carter as a patron for the charity.
Source: ActionDuchenne.org
