Chris Broad
Chris, with his children Stuart and Gemma Broad, founded The Broad Appeal for the MND Association after Chris’s wife Michelle was diagnosed with MND in 2009. Michelle died in 2010 and since then the family have done much to support us. For more information on The Broad Appeal, please see our dedicated webpage
Chris is an English cricket official, broadcaster and former England cricketer and opening batsman, Chris began his international career in 1984 for the second test match against the West Indies at Lords. Shortly after, in 1986, he made his One Day International debut against Australia in Perth. In the 1986-87 Ashes series, Chris became the third Englishman to score centuries in three consecutive matches. His career spanned 25 test matches, with 6 centuries, all away from home, including a high score of 162.
Benedict Cumberbatch CBE
Benedict has been our patron since 2008, following the extensive research he undertook to portray Professor Stephen Hawking in the BAFTA-nominated BBC drama Hawking.
Benedict said: “I first became aware of MND back in 2003 when I played physicist Professor Stephen Hawking. As part of my research, I worked with the Motor Neurone Disease Association who introduced me to two people who had MND at very different stages. They very generously allowed me to film them and were remarkably brave in their frankness and honesty about how it started and what they’d felt emotionally and physically. I’m very proud to still be involved with the MND Association today.”
In the summer of 2014 Benedict’s Ice Bucket Challenge video played a huge role in raising £7million, securing over 6.4 million views to date on our YouTube page alone and generating global media coverage of MND. Fans chose to support the Association to celebrate his birthday in 2018, raising over £19,000. Benedict has attended our events and continues to support the MND Association whenever he can.
Benedict Cumberbatch starred in Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog for which he has received numerous Leading Actor nominations including the Academy Awards and BAFTAs. Most recently, he starred in Wes Anderson's Academy Award nominated short The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and led the series Eric, written by Abi Morgan for Netflix. Benedict is well known for his portrayal of Doctor Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as well as for the titular role in the BBC's Sherlock.
Taron Egerton
Taron lost his grandmother to Motor Neurone Disease in 2003 and has supported us since 2015.
He said “My gran was a formidable woman and to have her taken from us so quickly by MND was an awful shock for my family. I’m really excited to be a patron for the MND Association. I look forward to working more with the charity in the future”.
Most recently Taron filmed the closing address for our roadshow for the MND community in Wales. His fans often organise a birthday fundraiser for us – for his 30th Birthday they raised over $6000.
Taron has appeared in international film blockbusters such as Kingsman: The Secret Service, it’s sequel Kingsman: The Golden Circle and playing the titular and unforgettable role in Eddie The Eagle. He won praise from critics and audiences alike for his stunning performance as Elton John in the hit movie Rocketman, winning a Golden Globe for his performance. He recently starred in the popular Apple TV series Blackbird.
The Baroness Finlay of Llandaff.
Professor Ilora Finlay, Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, is a Welsh doctor, professor of palliative medicine, and an independent crossbench member of the House of Lords. She currently serves as Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman of Committees in the House of Lords. She is a past president of the Royal Society of Medicine. She is a professor of palliative medicine at Cardiff University School of Medicine, and is consultant at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. On 28 June 2001, she was made a life peer as Baroness Finlay of Llandaff.
Charlotte Hawkins
In 2015 Charlotte presented the MND Association BBC Radio 4 Appeal (raising more than £22k with an audience of around 2.4m) where she shared the story of how her father, Frank, had been diagnosed with MND in 2011. Sadly, Frank passed away just before the appeal was aired, losing his battle with MND just four years after diagnosis.
As our patron, Charlotte supports many fundraising and engagement events, as well as raising awareness of MND through her work as a journalist and broadcaster and being a keen advocate for our campaigning work, including our successful Scrap 6 Months campaign. Charlotte was the face of our BBC Lifeline Appeal in 2024. She is also Branch Patron of our West Surrey branch.
Charlotte is a television presenter, newsreader and journalist, best known for her co-hosting of ITV’s Good Morning Britain, and as a presenter on Classic FM radio. She previously worked on Meridian Tonight, 5 Live, and Sky News Sunrise.
Eddie Redmayne OBE
Eddie has been our patron since 2015, when he said: “I knew that understanding the disease was going to be the essential element of The Theory Of Everything. We were invited to visit MND clinics, and I went every couple of weeks for a few months so I could find out what life was really like for people living with the disease. These people were incredibly receptive, and really kind. All the understanding they gave me went into the film, and there’s no question that we couldn’t have done it without the help we had from everyone. Being a MND Association Patron tops off the life-changing experiences I had making this film and learning about the devastation of Motor Neurone Disease along the way”.
Eddie chose the MND Association to benefit from a £50,000 donation from Marks & Spencer when he appeared in their Christmas TV advert.
In June 2020 Eddie Redmayne spoke to Peers and MPs at a virtual meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on MND. He emphasised, alongside people living with MND and their families, the importance of people living with MND being supported through the Covid pandemic.
Eddie continues to do much to raise funds and awareness, including fronting Global MND Awareness Day in 2023. He also has a wonderful and committed army of fans who kindly run an annual birthday fundraiser for us – we are very grateful to them all too.
Eddie is an award-winning actor, notably winning a ‘Best Actor Oscar’ for his portrayal of Professor Stephen Hawking in the BAFTA award-winning The Theory Of Everything. More recently he has starred in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and the sequel, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. In 2023 he won a Laurence Olivier Award for his theatre role in Cabaret.
Kevin Sinfield CBE
Kevin, alongside his friend Rob Burrow, became an MND Association patron in July 2021 and, together with Rob and his challenges team, has helped to raise millions of pounds for the MND Association by taking part in epic endurance events over the UK, galvanising the MND community and inspiring the nation to support our cause. His achievements alongside Rob have been instrumental for raising awareness and funds for our work.
Kevin started his career as a professional rugby player. He retired in 2016 as an idol of the Leeds Rhinos' golden years and as a former England captain. He won seven Super League titles, three World Cup Challenges and two Challenge Cups in 521 matches for his club. In 2024 Kevin was awarded a CBE alongside his friend Rob Burrow, in recognition of the awareness and fundraising that they have achieved for MND
Jeremy Vine
Jeremy has been a patron of the MND Association since 2017 and is also a long-standing patron of our West London and Middlesex Branch. Jeremy is hugely supportive of all aspects of our work, fronting many events and raising awareness and supporting fundraising initiatives for us. This includes hosting the APPG on MND 20th Anniversary Dinner at the House of Lords, taking part in Len Johnrose’s IceFoot92 challenge and supporting our Pride month awareness video.
Jeremy commented: 'The MND Association does brilliant work for people who have been struck down by one of the most debilitating illnesses ever known. I am absolutely delighted – and incredibly humbled - to come on board as the charity’s Patron.... I look forward to doing what I can to help in the future, both on a national and local level'.
Jeremy is a British television and radio personality, broadcaster and journalist. He is best known as the host of his hugely popular BBC Radio 2 lunchtime programme and his Channel 5 weekday television current affairs show, Jeremy Vine.