Edition 8 of the 'You are Strong' Newsletter from Harrison's Fund

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Edition 7 of the 'You are Strong' Newsletter from Harrison's Fund

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Edition 6 of the 'You are Strong' Newsletter from Harrison's Fund

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.

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.

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.

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.

We’re proud to be taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge again, with a goal of raising £12,000 to support our Chrysalis Grant Programme. To get started, we need pledgers to commit to the first £3,000 by 28th August. These early pledges unlock matched funding during the campaign week. Every pound raised will go twice as far in supporting the mental health of families living with Duchenne. Be part of something big—because families need more than hope. They need help.

4 Mental Health Tips from Dr. Kirsty Gregory Supporting Duchenne families this Mental Health Awareness Week. At Harrison’s Fund, we know that living with Duchenne affects far more than just the body—it impacts the heart and mind too. That’s why mental health is a core part of the support we offer, through initiatives like our Chrysalis Grants and expert guidance from Clinical Psychologist Dr. Kirsty Gregory.

With community at the heart of Mental Health Awareness Week, Michael McGrath MBE highlights the urgent need to support young people—especially those living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. In this blog, he explores the rising mental health challenges and shines a spotlight on Harrison’s Fund’s Project Chrysalis, a vital initiative offering funded access to expert psychological support for families affected by DMD.