CEO, Harrison\u2019s Fund, United Kingdom<\/p>\n
In this eighth interview of our series \u201c\u00a0Portrait of Duchenne\u00a0<\/em>\u201d, La Fondation La Force talks with Alex Smith, CEO of Harrison\u2019s Fund, a British-based, leading charity for research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Alex\u2019s life changed when his son Harrison, now 11, was diagnosed with DMD. He decided to do something to make a difference.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Alex worked in brand marketing in an area near London, England. Every night, he came home to a lovely family, his wife and two sons. As a father, he had many dreams for his children\u2019s future. He hoped that they would grow into productive young men, who would wed and start families of their own.<\/p>\n Alex wasn\u2019t a sporty guy. For at least 20 years, he hadn\u2019t worked out or participated in any sports. In fact, he was physically inactive.<\/p>\n He knew nothing about charities and how they worked.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Then, his son Harrison was diagnosed with DMD.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen it first happened, it was a really tough moment. The doctor, like (for) many other families, told us our son was going to die and that we should take him home and give him a good life. And, in that moment, our world changed, because it just felt incredibly numb,\u2019\u2019 Alex told us.\u00a0\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n But Alex realized,<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m one of those people who needs to pick himself up and do something about it.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n He started Harrison\u2019s Fund and dedicated his life to the charity.<\/p>\n \u201cWe raise money, raise awareness, then give that money to some of the best researchers in the world to try to make a profound difference to all children with Duchenne everywhere.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\nBefore diagnosis<\/strong><\/h4>\n
After diagnosis<\/strong><\/h4>\n