🎄 The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2025:

Alex Smith
Jul 17
3 min read

Updated: Aug 13

Double the Impact. Double the Hope

This Christmas, Harrison’s Fund is once again taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s biggest online match-funding campaign—and we need your help to make it our most impactful year yet.

Our target is ambitious but essential: raise £12,000 to expand our Chrysalis Grant Programme, which funds access to specialist clinical psychology for families affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

To make this happen, we first need to raise £3,000 in pledges by 28th August. These pledges aren’t donations yet—they’re commitments to give during campaign week in December. But without them, we won’t be eligible for the matching funds that double every donation we receive.

Why Clinical Psychology Matters

When a child is diagnosed with Duchenne, families are thrown into a whirlwind of uncertainty. They’re navigating grief, fear, and medical complexity from day one. And yet, most families face this without access to the expert clinical psychology that should be standard in rare disease care.

That’s why we created the Chrysalis Grant Programme—a groundbreaking initiative designed to give families direct access to qualified, experienced psychologists who understand the emotional landscape of Duchenne.

Our grants fund sessions with registered clinical psychologists who work in partnership with families, NHS neuromuscular teams, and paediatric specialists. It’s not just “mental health support”—it’s targeted, high-level psychological care that builds emotional resilience, provides coping tools, and ensures families are psychologically equipped to face the road ahead.

The Impact So Far

Thanks to our supporters, over the past 12 months:

We’ve delivered over 170 hours of funded therapy
Partnered with six NHS Neuromuscular Clinics to reach the right families
Supported parents, siblings, and children at all stages of the Duchenne journey—from diagnosis to transitions and crisis moments

But demand is growing. Far too many families are still being told, “There’s no one available.” Or worse, “There’s a two-year wait.” This is where your pledge can change lives.

How Matched Giving Works

Every pound donated during the campaign week (3rd–10th December) will be matched £ for £ by a Champion Funder—doubling your impact at no extra cost to you.

But to secure that match-funding, we need pledgers to commit now. These early pledges unlock the match pool, allowing us to raise far more when the campaign begins.

Here’s how your matched donation could help:

£100 (matched to £200) = two clinical psychology session
£500 (matched to £1000) = a fully funded Chryslais Grant for a patient in need
£500 (matched to £1,000) = two fully funded Chryslais Grants for a DMD patient and parent

This isn’t just helpful—it’s transformative.

Dates to Remember

Pledgers needed by: 28th August 2025
Big Give campaign week: 3rd – 10th December 2025
Pledges become donations during the campaign and are matched £ for £

Pledging now means promising to give later—it costs nothing today, but unlocks double the support for Duchenne families.

Join Us. Double the Difference.

When the world feels overwhelming, it’s easy to believe your contribution won’t matter. But in the Big Give, every single donation is doubled—and every pound helps bring expert psychological support to the families who need it most.

This Christmas, help us provide the right help, at the right time, from the right professionals.