Paddington Bear
Paddington Bear has been at the heart of fundraising for Action Medical Research ever since his creator, Michael Bond, met the charity’s founder, Duncan Guthrie, in 1976. Paddington Bear always likes to help wherever he can and so, after chewing over the matter with Mr Bond, he agreed to support Action Medical Research as the charity’s official mascot. Paddington Bear’s cheery face has helped us attract thousands of new supporters who together have raised millions of pounds to help babies and children.
Davina McCall
Television presenter Davina McCall is one of the country’s busiest and best-loved personalities. Her links with Action Medical Research date back to her grandparents who were also keen supporters. We are delighted that Davina has continued the family tradition. Davina has brought her warmth and charisma to countless events for the charity including the hugely popular Dine with Davina lunches. From taking part in sponsored walks for the charity as a child to hosting events today, Davina is one of Action Medical Research’s most steadfast supporters and will be leading a women-only bike ride in 2011 for the charity.
Fiona Bruce
Fiona Bruce became a household name as one the country’s most authoritative newsreaders and presenters. Fiona supports the charity by hosting events and lending her well-known voice to many of the charity’s promotional films. In 2006 Fiona became a leading light in the charity’s Action Partners programme. She has worked alongside Action Medical Research on many projects since 1999 and in 2001 she was appointed Trustee and Appeal Patron.
Dawn Harper
Media doctor Dawn Harper is best-known as one of the original co-presenters on Channel Four’s popular Embarrassing Illnesses and Embarrassing Bodies series. She also still works as a GP, based in Gloucestershire, at an NHS Surgery in Stroud and runs private clinics focusing on women’s health. Dr Dawn is a strong supporter of the charity as two of her three children were born prematurely. She recruited a group of fellow TV and radio doctors to form Team GP for the charity’s London to Paris bike ride in July 2009 and again in 2010. Dawn will also be taking part in our 3 Cities Challenge in 2011.
Kirsty McCabe
Currently Daybreak's Weather and Environment correspondent, Kirsty has leant her support to our Wear your Wellies event - an ideal match since regularly presenting outdoor forecasts means she has built up an enviable collection of wellies of her own! Kirsty started her career in weather presenting in 2003 when she joined the BBC Weather team. She moved to Daybreak's predecessor show, GMTV, in 2009. She says: "Action Medical Research offers hope to many thousands of families across the UK. As a new mum myself, I appreciate just how important this is.”
Dermot Murnaghan
Dermot Murnaghan is one of the nation’s best-known and most experienced news readers. He currently presents Sky News weekdays from 9am-1pm. Before moving to Sky, he occupied the BBC Breakfast sofa for five years and also spent 11 years at ITN, where he was the presenter who broke the news to the nation about the sudden death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Aside from news, he also presents early evening quiz show Eggheads on BBC2. A keen cyclist, Dermot has joined the charity on its overseas tours and hosted our Champions of CycleSport Dinner in 2010.
Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley shot to fame as the front man of 1980s super-group, Spandau Ballet. He became involved with Action Medical Research when he took part in the charity’s trek to Peru in 2003. Since then, Tony has become an enthusiastic ambassador, giving sparkling performances at the Action Balls and events such as Dine with Davina that have inspired generous donations for medical research. Tony has also continued to take part in a series of arduous treks to raise funds for the charity.
Martin Fry
Martin Fry is the front man of ’80s pop band ABC. Famous for his gold lame suit, the band’s acclaimed debut album ‘The Lexicon of Love’ included hits ‘Look of Love’ and ‘Poison Arrow’. Still touring and performing today, Martin has taken part in three charity treks alongside music pals Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet and Richard Drummie of Go West. Martin will also be taking part in our Cambodia Challenge Trek in 2011.
Liz Yelling
Double Olympian and Commonwealth Bronze medallist in the marathon, Liz Yelling is supporting Action Medical Research's Mums on the Run event in 2012. She said: "As a lifelong runner and Mum to daughter Ruby it’s great to be involved with the Mums on the Run project. I am only too aware of the demands on Mums and the time restrictions on exercise time. Running is a great form of regular exercise as it is cost and time efficient. It’s great ‘you’ time’. As a busy Mum it doesn’t take much time to slot a quick run in. My daughter Ruby has been in the running buggy with me or my husband pushing her almost every day since she was 4 months old and now at 2.5 years she certainly provides a great workout and she loves the time in the open air. Exercise is great for mothers and their children. I know that being able to get out and run certainly helps me to be a better mother and I hope to also be a great role model for my daughter now and in the future. The Mums on the Run 5k is a super event and a great motivator for keeping you on track with your health and fitness. 5k is the perfect distance for keeping fit and having fun for young and old, beginners and the more established runner."
Saira Khan
Runner-up in the first series of The Apprentice and television presenter, Saira is also a mum and the head of her own baby skincare products business, Miamoo. Saira has hosted our highly successful Glasgow Ladies’ Lunch event. She says: "As a mother I appreciate the role science and medical research plays in our daily lives. Having a healthy baby is every parent’s joy and it’s for that reason that I want to be part of a charity that wants the best medical options to be available to all parents and their children."
Richard Drummie
One half of ‘80s pop duo Go West, Richard Drummie is best-known for classic hits such as ‘We Close Our Eyes’ and ‘Don’t Look Down’. The band’s success continued in the early 90’s, most notably with the single ‘King of Wishful Thinking’ from the movie ‘Pretty Woman’ – one of the highest grossing films of the decade. Richard has taken part in various charity treks alongside Tony Hadley and Martin Fry and will be taking part in our Cambodia Challenge Trek in 2011.
Kirsty Gallagher
As a television presenter and mum of two, Kirsty has given her support to the charity’s Mums on the Run fundraising event. “As a mum of two I know how important it is for new mums who want to get back into a fitness routine after giving birth. Mums on the Run is a great way for new mums or mums new to running, to kickstart their fitness, have a great family day out and meet other mums, while raising money for Action Medical Research, who are working to stop the suffering of sick babies and children. I would encourage families to support their mums to get involved with this great event.”
Cycling Celebrities
Leading sporting celebrities from the world of cycling have also given their generous support to Action Medical Research, backing our packed programme of cycling events including London2Paris and our CycleSport Dinner
Geraint Thomas MBE
Welsh professional cyclist Geraint is a multiple track cycling world champion, Olympic gold medallist in the team pursuit and a Cycling Ambassador for Action Medical Research. He said: “2012 is a huge year for me as I get ready to compete in the Olympics in front of a home crowd. It's also a really special year for Action Medical Research as the charity celebrates it's 60th anniversary. I was four years old when I first learnt to ride a bike but sadly some children never get that chance. So I hope everyone will support me when I go for gold but I also hope people will support Action Medical Research by taking on one of their fantastic cycling challenges to help fund more life-changing research for some of the UK's sickest babies and children.”
Dave Brailsford CBE
British Cycling’s Performance Director Dave Brailsford was the man behind Team GB’s phenomenal Olympic success in 2008. Among many plaudits, he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Coach Award. Keen to encourage riders of all abilities to get on their bikes, Dave has endorsed the charity’s packed schedule of cycling events and our work in the Gold Challenge. He and British Cycling’s Head Coach Shane Sutton have also joined the charity on one of its recent overseas cycling tours. He said: “I have had the pleasure of cycling with the Action team and cannot recommend their events highly enough to all new and experienced cyclists. Have a great time and enjoy your cycling with Action Medical Research.
Mark Cavendish MBE
Known as the fastest man on two wheels, ‘Cav’, as he is universally known, developed his career through the British Olympic Academy programme. On the track he has been both World and Commonwealth Games Champion. He has notched up 15 Tour de France stages wins between 2008 and 2010 and victory in one of the great monuments, the Milan San-Remo. Mark said: "Action Medical Research offers a great range of quality cycling events. Whether you want to cycle from London to Paris, or you're up for taking on a 100-mile ride where you live, there really is something for everyone. Every ride raises money to help stop the suffering of sick babies and children. I attended the charity's Champions of CycleSport event and saw for myself just how important this fundraising is so I would urge cyclists to saddle up and take part."
Dani King
Dani King is the 2011 Team Pursuit World & European Champion, 2011 World Championship Scratch Race Bronze Medalist and rider for Horizon Fitness RT. She said: "It's been fantastic to see women's cycling taking more of a spotlight lately and I hope more and more women will be inspired to get on their bikes. Riding for a charity like Action Medical Research is a great way to get motivated and meet others, and it's great that they have events just for women. You can choose from a one-day DIVA 100 ride or for the more adventurous there is a London to Paris trip. Go on girls, give it a go!
Graeme Obree
Graeme is a truly unique motivational speaker and inspires audiences with his life story about his journey to becoming the World Hour Record holder (x2) and World 4000m Pursuit champion (x2) which has been captured in a film called The Flying Scotsman. Graeme said: "Action Medical Research funds vital work to help sick babies and children and over the last 30 years has invested more than £6 million in projects based in Scotland. By taking part in one of the charity's Scottish cycling events such as the Glasgow 100 or the exhilarating Trossachs Ton, you could help fund the life-changing work of the future - just by getting on your bike."
Chris Boardman MBE
Olympic gold medallist and arguably Britain’s most successful cyclist, Chris has been involved in cycle journalism as well as running a successful cycling brand. He said: “As a UK cycling coach I help to develop and inspire the next generation of cyclists. Taking part in events such as the Action 100 Series run by Action Medical Research, is a great way to keep up their training, meet fellow enthusiasts while raising money to help sick babies and children.”
Ben Swift
Rising cycling talent Ben Swift is part of the Team Sky squad, alongside our Cycling Ambassador Geraint Thomas. Ben will be lending his support to help us raise the profile of our cycling events. He said: "Riding in my first Tour de France last year was a childhood dream come true and you too could experience the exhilaration of completing your own cycling challenge in 2012. Whether it's 100 miles in a day, a 24-hour team ride or the epic 1,000-mile trip from Land's End to John O'Groats, Action Medical Research has more than 20 events to choose from. By taking part you will also be helping to fund life-changing research for some of the UK's sickest babies and children.
David Millar
David is a British road racing cyclist and a stage winner at the Tour de France. He said: “Action Medical Research is funding vital research to help stop the suffering of sick babies and children. By taking part in one of the charity’s challenging cycling events, we as cyclists can contribute towards the funding by doing something we love, riding our bikes. Sign up for one of the events, get sponsored, and give something back to a wonderful cause.”
Sean Yates
English former professional cyclist and team official, Sean Yates said: “Whether you want to cycle from London to Paris, or you’re up for taking on a 100-mile ride where you live, there is something for everyone in Action Medical Research’s cycling programme. Every event raises money to help stop the suffering of sick babies and children so I would urge every cyclist to saddle up and take part.”
Gold Challenge
Action Medical Research is one of more than 100 charities taking part in the Gold Challenge, and has been supported by a number of high-profile sporting celebrities.
