Action Duchenne
1266. Shelley Simmonds
1267. Fraser Simmonds
Shelley and Fraser Simmonds are leading advocates for accessibility, inclusion and equality for disabled people.
After Fraser’s diagnosis in 2014, they created the online community ‘Fraser & Friends’, sharing their experiences of living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy to make people aware of the condition and how it impacts their everyday lives.
They are supporters of ‘Action Duchenne’ – the UK’s first national organisation to support people living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy – and Shelley is recognised for the significant voluntary contribution that she has given to the charity and the greater Duchenne cause.
Shelley and Fraser received their awards from their local MP, John Barron, and had the chance to pay a visit to No.10 Downing Street (pictured below).
In a personal letter to Shelley and Fraser, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“I know you do this with no thought of praise or reward, but allow me to offer my own recognition of how you bravely put others first and work through ‘Action Duchenne’ to support children and families living with muscular dystrophy. You are an exceptional young man, Fraser, and you and your mum do so much to inspire all of us.”
John Barron, Shelley’s local MP for Basildon and Billericay, said:
“Congratulations to Shelley and Fraser on this award. I know they both do a lot of work and fundraising for Action Duchenne and it pleasing to see that the Prime Minister has recognised this effort by awarding them as Points of Light. I am hoping to meet with them again shortly to present them with the award.”
Shelley said:
“I am so proud of my little boy for being awarded such prestigious recognition from the Prime Minister – thank you. Fraser has taught me more about life in his six years than what I learned in all of the thirty before I had him and this has driven me to make the world a better place for him. I’m determined to see a society that will one day be fully inclusive, accessible and equal for those with a disability – because different doesn’t mean less. My son may have Duchenne muscular dystrophy, but it doesn’t stop him from being happy with a life full of hopes and dreams ahead of him.”