Presidents and Patron

President - Sue Barker MBE

Originally from Devon, Sue Barker is a 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. Upon retiring from tennis in 1985 Sue became a sports commentator and joined the BBC to anchor tennis coverage at Wimbledon in 1993. Since joining the BBC Sue has become one of its chief sport presenters - she fronts key sporting events including the Olympics and is also the presenter of the popular quiz show A Question of Sport.

Through a great friendship with Lord Attenborough, Sue Barker decided to follow in his footsteps by becoming President of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in 2004. Since joining Sue has become an active supporter, attending many charity events including our national conferences.

Honorary Life President - Lord Richard Attenborough Kt CBE

Acclaimed actor, director and producer, Lord Richard Attenborough is one of this country's most distinguished citizens. He was appointed a CBE in 1967, knighted in 1976 and created a life peer in 1993. Lord Attenborough first found out about the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign when visiting a local hospital fetee in 1962 where he was greatly affected by the plight of the boys living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

From that very day he offered his support to us, contributing greatly to raising the profile of the charity and generating hundreds of thousands of pounds. He served as President for 30 years, from 1972 until 2002, when he became an Honorary Life President. Lord Attenborough remains an inspirational supporter of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

Honorary Life President - Lord John Walton Kt TD MA MD DSc FRCP FMedSci

Lord Walton of Detchant was a founder of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign (then called the Muscular Dystrophy Group) in 1959. In medical school he specialised in neurology and studied muscular dystrophy, establishing a new classification system based on genetic information. He was Professor of Neurology and Dean of Medicine at the University of Newcastle.

Lord Walton has held the presidencies of several medical organisations, including the General Medical Council (GMC), the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Royal Society of Medicine. He was created a life peer in 1989 and has contributed as a cross-bencher to many high profile debates.

Lord Walton served as Chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign from 1970 to 1994, when he became an Honorary Life President. He has been a loyal and constant guiding influence on the development of the charityover the last 50 years.

Patron - HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM GBE AC QSO PC

Prince Philip was born Prince of Greece and Denmark in Corfu in 1921. He renounced his foreign Royal title when he became a naturalised British subject in 1947, the same year he married The Queen. Since Princess Elizabeth became Queen in 1952, Prince Philip has provided an immense amount of support to her in her duties. Through his work with a wide range of charities the Duke of Edinburgh has played a major national and international role in helping other people. Prince Philip became Patron of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign in 1966 and has been a much-valued supporter for 42 years.

The portraits of the Honorary Life Presidents and Patron were painted by Jonathan Yeo and exhibited in London in 2008.