Sanofi announces 2012 Patient Group Bursary winners

Sanofi is delighted to announce the three winners of its 2012 Patient Group Bursary scheme: Ataxia UK (Gold – £25,000), Crohn’s and Colitis UK (Silver – £15,000) and Muscular Dystrophy Campaign (Bronze – £10,000). Each of the three winning charities made exceptional cases for ambitious, but realistic campaigns capable of making a lasting difference to the lives of patients in their respective fields.

The panel of expert Judges who met at the end of May 2012 to decide on the three winning entries was chaired by Steve Oldfield, General Manager of Sanofi UK, and included Baroness Jill Pitkeathley OBE, Baroness Julia Neuberger DBE, Baroness Patricia Morris OBE and Baroness Judith Jolly.

“Sanofi has a longstanding and successful track record of working in partnership with patient groups and the NHS to meet the needs of healthcare professionals and patients. The Patient Group Bursary Scheme highlights our enduring commitment to improving care and empowering patients. We were thrilled to have received over 100 applications to the 2012 scheme – nearly a three fold increase from last year and we look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition and deliver real improvements for patients across a variety of disease areas” commented Steve Oldfield, General Manager of Sanofi and Chair of the judging panel.

• Ataxia UK, who have been awarded the Gold bursary of £25,000, propose to use the funding to roll out a ‘befriender’ scheme to provide patients with help, advice, support and guidance. This vital service will both directly impact on and empower patients – providing ataxia sufferers access to the best information and support services possible to help them and their families manage their condition more effectively.
• Crohn’s and Colitis UK, who were awarded the Silver grant of £15,000, propose to use the funding to set up five pilot projects across Great Britain running residential weekends for young people with IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease).
• In preparation for the final launch of the new England NHS structures in April 2013, Muscular Dystrophy Campaign propose to use the Bronze award of £10,000 to develop expert-patient consultancy – empowering neuromuscular patients to take a direct lead on working with commissioners to improve services in their area.