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'You Are Strong' - Edition 8
Edition 8 of the 'You are Strong' Newsletter from Harrison's Fund
Alex Smith
Oct 130 min read
Ask Max: Is It Okay to Say No? – Protecting Your Time Without Guilt
In this month’s Ask Max, Maxine reflects on the importance of saying no. Between hospital visits, school meetings, and family life, it’s easy to forget self-care. But sometimes, pausing and rescheduling is the healthiest choice—for you and your child. Saying no isn’t failure; it’s protecting your energy for what matters most.
Alex Smith
Oct 132 min read
Running for Duchenne: Our 2025 Royal Parks Half Team
On Sunday 12th October, 19 incredible runners laced up their trainers and took to the streets of London for the Royal Parks Half Marathon — all in support of Harrison’s Fund and families affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It was a bright, crisp autumn morning — perfect running weather — and the energy was infectious. Harrison and I were out on the course cheering our team along, shouting encouragement and waving banners as they passed through the stunning route that win
Alex Smith
Oct 132 min read
World Mental Health Day 2025: Supporting the Boys and Girls Who Need Us Most
Today, on World Mental Health Day 2025, we turn our focus to a community whose emotional and psychological needs are often overlooked: children living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and their families. While advancements in medical care have improved physical outcomes, the mental health impact of Duchenne is profound and frequently invisible.
Alex Smith
Oct 93 min read
Harnessing Hope to Enhance Mental Health
Living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) presents unique challenges that ripple through every aspect of family life. The emotional and mental health toll can be profound, yet there is a powerful resource that families can draw upon to navigate these difficult waters. This resource is hope. It acts as a beacon, guiding families through uncertainty and hardship, helping them to maintain resilience and emotional well-being.
Alex Smith
Oct 93 min read
Explore Psychological Support Options & Practical Steps for Mental Health
Living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy brings emotional as well as physical challenges. This blog explores practical mental health strategies for patients and families, from professional therapy and support groups to mindfulness, routines, and creative outlets. Discover how small, consistent steps can build resilience, reduce isolation, and nurture well-being. With the right tools and community support, families can foster hope and strength together.
Alex Smith
Sep 254 min read
CARE… and how it defines us and them
Care defines us as parents of two boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. As their bodies weaken, grief is constant, yet so too is wonder: Oskar accepts with innocence, Theodor resists with fierce intelligence. Caring for them is humbling—an act of defiance and unconditional love, ensuring their spirits remain undiminished. The disease may take much, but it will not define them; their courage and will always shine through.
Nick Taussig
Sep 192 min read
Theodore, my superhero
On a summer’s afternoon, lost in depression, a father imagines his son Theodor soaring through clouds like a superhero. The vision pulls him from despair, reminding him of Theodor’s fierce intelligence, courage, and defiance in the face of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In his son’s gaze, he finds strength and hope, carried aloft by love. Theodor whispers the simple truth that restores him: “All will be ok, Daddy, all will be ok.”
Nick Taussig
Sep 192 min read
My Son, Oskar
A father writes to his son Oskar, calling him his greatest teacher. Through Oskar’s gaze, smile, and innocent wonder, he finds release from anger, permission to surrender, and glimpses of pure presence. From sunflowers and raindrops to the silver hairs in his beard, Oskar helps him see life in its truest form—beyond thought, grief, and struggle. In gratitude and love, he honours Oskar’s wisdom and healing spirit.
Nick Taussig
Sep 191 min read
'You Are Strong' - Edition 7
Edition 7 of the 'You are Strong' Newsletter from Harrison's Fund
Alex Smith
Sep 170 min read
Big Give Update: Double Your Impact This December
Thanks to your pledges, we’ve unlocked matched funding in the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Between 3–10 December, every donation will be doubled, helping us reach £12,000 to fund expert clinical psychology for Duchenne families.
Alex Smith
Sep 171 min read
Ask Max: Do Wheelchairs Mean Giving Up or Finding Independence?
When Austin began using a wheelchair, I feared it meant giving up. But what I saw instead was relief and freedom. No more struggles to keep up with friends, no more fear of falling. The chair gave him independence, safety, and dignity. For families facing the same stage, please know you’re not alone. A wheelchair isn’t the end—it’s a tool for inclusion and a better quality of life. Sometimes, embracing the next step opens doors we never expected.
Maxine Foster
Sep 122 min read
Fundraiser Stories: A Father–Son Challenge for Duchenne
Paul has been running for Harrison’s Fund for seven years. This October, he’s taking on the Royal Parks Half with his son Leighton, who will be completing his very first half marathon. Inspired by their friends Maxine and Austin, who live with Duchenne, they’re running not just for the challenge but to raise funds for Harrison’s Fund’s Chrysalis Grants, which provide expert clinical psychology support to families facing this devastating diagnosis.
Alex Smith
Sep 122 min read
Fundraiser Stories: Final Update Giro d’Willtalia – The Final Finish Line
Giro d'Willtalia - Seven years. Three countries. Over 13,000 kilometres. Nearly 100,000 metres of climbing. One team of friends with an extraordinary goal. They completed the third and final part of their epic cycling journey: recreating all three of cycling’s legendary 1968 Grand Tours, ridden in full, in the same number of days as the original races.
Alex Smith
Sep 123 min read
Bereavement in Focus
Michael McGrath MBE, founder and CEO, Muscle Help Foundation, sets the scene on a substantial body of work driven by our friends at The Muscle Help Foundation in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire, which looks at how we can better understand and support families through grief and bereavement. Reproduced with permission, copyright Rare Revolution Magazine.
Michael McGrath MBE
Sep 125 min read
'You Are Strong' - Edition 6
Edition 6 of the 'You are Strong' Newsletter from Harrison's Fund
Alex Smith
Aug 130 min read
Running for Duchenne: Lisa and Jamie Take on the Royal Parks Half Marathon
Lisa and Jamie are turning the Royal Parks Half Marathon into a mission to support families affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Every mile they run raises funds for Harrison’s Fund, helping deliver Project Chrysalis, which provides therapy, coaching, and emotional support to children, parents, siblings, and carers navigating life with Duchenne.
Alex Smith
Aug 132 min read
Ask Max: I Feel Burnt Out – Is This Normal?
Caring for Austin, who has Duchenne, can be overwhelming. Max shares her experience with burnout and offers practical tips—from short breaks to celebrating small wins—to help carers cope and find balance.
Maxine Foster
Aug 132 min read
Fundraiser Stories: Giro d’Willtalia, Heat, History, and Heart - Update
Eleven days into Giro d’Willtalia, Will Jackson-Moore and his team have battled storms, heatwaves, and relentless climbs across Italy. Riding for Harrison’s Fund, Cancer Research UK, and Herts Young Homeless, they’re pushing through every brutal kilometre to raise funds and hope. From the Italian lakes to the Adriatic, their journey blends grit, history, and purpose — and the hardest days are still ahead.
Alex Smith
Aug 134 min read
10 Years in Harmony: Tenors Unlimited and the Song That Carries Us All
This December marks 10 years of support from Tenors Unlimited, who return to St Martin’s Church on Dec 12 for a magical Christmas concert in aid of Harrison’s Fund. Don’t miss their powerful performance of Carry You—a song inspired by founder Alex Smith’s Ironman challenge with his son Harrison. Download the track, join us on the night, and help us make a difference for families facing Duchenne.
Alex Smith
Jul 233 min read
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