Lord Richard Attenborough CBE President and Patrons

"Lord Attenborough (1923 – 2014) personally led many fundraising campaigns and he took a close interest in the work of the charity. He raised huge sums for research. Above all, perhaps, he enjoyed being with children and families, revealing his caring and compassionate side that – allied with his vision and determination – made him such an outstanding President.  We will miss him but never forget the role he played over so many years."
  • Supporter from 1962
  • Chair of the National Appeals Committee 1964-1971
  • President 1971-2002
  • Honorary Life President 2002-2014

After meeting boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy at a local fête in 1962, Lord Richard Attenborough CBE pledged his commitment to fight muscle-wasting conditions. His passion, dedication, and hugely successful fundraising were instrumental in getting us to where we are today. In 2012, we established the Richard Attenborough Fellowship Fund in honour of his lifelong commitment to the charity’s groundbreaking research. This fund continues his legacy.

“I’ve received far more than I have given as far as the charity is concerned. The privilege of knowing the parents and of coming to understand the depths of what their utterly unselfish love can amount to, is a gift that perhaps I will never witness anywhere else. And I shall be ever grateful to the charity for that.”