Trustees

Ted Peel - Chair

Ted spent 32 years with the Metropolitan Police, serving in CID, anti-terrorism, and as a Policing and Security Advisor. Diagnosed with MDS in 2015, Ted became Chairman of MDS UK in 2017 - Read More

Tony Allen - Acting Chair

Tony Allen, a chartered accountant, studied economics at Cambridge. With expertise in accounting and global consulting, he became Interim Chair at MDS UK after being diagnosed with MDS in 2020 - Read More

Lin Holder

Lin has extensive sales and marketing experience and later became a teacher, specialising in accounting, bookkeeping and ICT. Lin has been involved with MDS UK since 2018, due to her husband Ron's diagnosis - Read More

John Evason

John, a solicitor and Partner at Baker McKenzie, specialises in Employment Law. Diagnosed with MDS in 2014, he appreciated the support he received from MDS UK and applied to become a Trustee when the vacancy came up - Read More

Russell Cook

Russell Cook, a financial adviser, raises awareness of MDS and rare blood disorders. He had three bone marrow transplants to successfully deal with his MDS - Read More

Chris Dugmore

After a career in the public and voluntary sectors, in 2009, Chris was diagnosed with CMML, a disease closely related to MDS. She devotes significant time to so many aspects of MDS UK, ensuring newly-diagnosed patients have accessible and reliable information - Read More

Claudia Richards

Claudia, a trilingual PA, was diagnosed with MDS-MLD in 2009. Since then, she has been deeply involved with MDS UK, dedicating her time to organising events, fundraising, campaigning, writing, proof-reading and more - Read More

Local Patient Support Ambassadors

Chris Dugmore

After a career in the public and voluntary sectors, in 2009, Chris was diagnosed with CMML, a disease closely related to MDS. She devotes significant time to so many aspects of MDS UK, ensuring newly-diagnosed patients have accessible and reliable information - Read More

Claudia Richards

Claudia, a trilingual PA, was diagnosed with MDS-MLD in 2009. Since then, she has been deeply involved with MDS UK, dedicating her time to organising events, fundraising, campaigning, writing, proof-reading and more - Read More

Maureen Sturrock

Maureen, a retired forensic psychiatrist, raises awareness of MDS Patient Support in Scotland and encourages more patients and carers to join the meetings which she has found so helpful - Read More

Karen Bruce

After a varied career in nursing, Karen was diagnosed with Familial HR-MDS and then AML.  She supports other patients in Northern Ireland, going through similar experiences - Read More

Patrons

Caitlin Limmer

Caitlin, through her years of dedication, has raised awareness and funds for MDS UK, including running 17 marathons! As Patron, she has made a huge positive impact for MDS patients, doctors, and researchers - Read More

Professor Ghulam Mufti

Professor Mufti, an internationally renowned specialist in MDS, heads the haematology department at King's College Hospital in London. We feel delighted and honoured to have him as our Patron - Read More

Clinicians 

Dr Dominic Culligan - Consultant Haematologist

Dr. Culligan, a consultant haematologist at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, specialises in managing AML, MDS, and lymphoma. He actively advises MDS UK Patient Support Group and is Chairman of the UK MDS Forum - Read More

Dr Onima Chowdhury - Consultant Haematologist

Dr. Chowdhury is a consultant haematologist at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. She specialises in myelodysplastic syndromes and serves as a scientific advisor to MDS UK Patient Support Group. - Read More

Janet Hayden - Clinical Nurse Specialist

Janet Hayden is a Myeloid Clinical Nurse Specialist working in the department of Haematological Medicine at Kings College NHS Foundation Trust. - Read More

Major Supporters 

Reverend Kes Grant

Reverend Kes Grant, an original member of the MDS UK Patient Group since 2006, has made tremendous contributions to MDS UK events, fundraising, support, blog writing and more - Read More

Rhonda Jacques

Rhonda, a former lecturer and college manager, had to retire due to a diagnosis of MDS (MLD). Since then, Rhonda has been an active member of the MDS community, particularly in Cheshire and Merseyside. - Read More

Staff

Debbie Hickman - Acting CEO

Debbie experienced outstanding support from MDS UK for her family. Her extensive management career, including a national charity role, led her to join MDS UK in 2022 to offer the same support to others - Read More

Ashleigh Venables - Fundraising Officer

Experienced in fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy UK and RNIB, Ashleigh joined MDS UK in May 2022. Contact Ashleigh for fundraising and volunteering opportunities - Read More

Zoya Mathison - Office Manager

Zoya has a background in TV production and joined MDS UK in 2023. After losing her best friend to cancer she wanted to work in an environment that advocates for cancer patients - Read More

Chaudian Morgan - Membership & Database Assistant

Chaudian brings experience from both public and private healthcare sectors and oversees membership and membership outreach at MDS UK - Read More

Kate Vahl - Web Editor

Kate, a former web and radio producer at the BBC, including the BBC Health website, joined MDS UK as the Web Editor in May 2022. - Read More

Website & IT Support

Comes from our ever helpful webmasters who manage our site with genuine care for our organisation and services - Read More