Chris Dugmore – (previously Trustee, Committee Member and Volunteer Co-ordinator)

Chris retired in July 2024 from active duty as a Trustee and Volunteer Co-ordinator, after thirteen years of what was often a full-time role for MDS UK. She has left a very big hole to fill, but we all wish Chris a very happy retirement spending more time pursuing her other passions, including looking after her grandchildren and tending her allotment!

During her working life, Chris enjoyed varied and interesting roles working in the public and voluntary sectors including Civil Service, Local Government, The National Childbirth Trust (NCT), schools and FE colleges.

Her work roles included Systems Analysis, information and support for new parents, Literacy and Numeracy support, teaching, and training, including NCT breastfeeding counsellors, and NHS staff. Chris also joined the local Maternity Services Liaison Committee and the (then) Community Health Council.

In 2008, Chris suddenly became very ill and was diagnosed a year later with Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (CMML), a disease that shares some of its features with MDS.

Chris found the experience of getting access to information and support about this rare disease very challenging and confusing. She decided she would use her skills and experience to ensure that people affected by MDS/CMML have easy access to accurate and clear information about the disease and to the emotional support given by MDS UK Patient Support Group.

Chris joined the MDS UK Patient Support Group Committee in 2011 as Newsletter Editor. She founded the MDS UK Essex Regional Support group in 2012 and was a regular and active contributor to the online Chat Forum. Chris was finally persuaded in 2023 to become a Trustee as she passionately believed in what MDS UK does to enable people to live with their disease in the best way for them.

Chris loves choral singing and reading. She has been married to Steve for over 50 years and shares with him a love of growing organic vegetables on their 2 allotments, as well as walking and completing cryptic crosswords! They have a son and 2 daughters, a son-in-law and 2 daughters-in-law. They also now have great fun with their 5 grandchildren.