Patrons

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PATRONS OF THE ASSOCIATION

NickRoss Nick Ross
Broadcaster and journalist Nick Ross became a Patron in 2005. He has been a leading broadcaster across a wide range of issues, specialising at various times in news, current affairs, politics, and crime.
“We have all become so used to the wonders of medicine that it still comes as a bitter disappointment that many diseases remain incurable. Arthritis in general is a case in point, though modern drugs can at least make some of the symptoms less intolerable. Scleroderma, in particular, has so far defied biochemists and clinicians. In the main we don’t know what causes the immune system to over-activate, nor how to halt it. For those who suffer this dispiriting condition, and the cruel symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon, things are made harder by its rarity and hence many people’s ignorance. Thank heavens for the fraternity of the Raynaud’s & Scleroderma Association. Until science works its miracles at least patients are not out in the cold”. Nick Ross
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Sharron Davies MBE
Sharron was born in 1962 in Plymouth, she became the youngest member of the 1976 Olympic team at the age of 13. She won a silver medal at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow and also took part in the 1992 Olympics at Barcelona. She was British champion 30 times, holds five World Master records and broke over 200 British records. After retiring from swimming, Sharron moved into the world of television, radio and public relations. She became a patron of the Association in 2004.


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David Wilkie MBE
David won a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke at the 1972 Olympics in Munich and later went on to win a gold in the 200m breaststroke at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. He won with a world-record time and went on to take a further silver medal in the 100m. He was also successful in the Commonwealth Games, winning a bronze medal in Edinburgh in the 200m breaststroke (1970). In the 1974 Games, held in Christchurch (New Zealand), he took a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke, a gold in the 200m breaststroke and a further gold in the 200m individual medley. David became a Patron in 1999.
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Roger Jefcoate CBE
For many years Roger has worked on developing technology to give thousands of disabled people a better quality of life. In 1998 he was awarded a CBE in recognition of his work. He has been associated with the work of the Charity since the early years and became a patron in 1998.


LadyPiercy Veronica, Lady Piercy
Veronica, Lady Piercy is the longest serving patron of the Association. She is a sufferer herself and a staunch supporter of our work. Veronica Piercy is the widow of William Piercy, founder of ICFC (now 3i), the provider of funds for industrial reconstruction. She trained as a probation officer, and also a psychotherapist, eventually working in a Child Guidance Unit in London. Later she tutored Masters social work students on their practice placements. On retirement in 1990 she moved to Yorkshire, where she has a large garden and 3 dogs. She was chairman of the York Diocese Social Care Fund from 1997 to 2005; she works as a volunteer for the Workers' Educational Association, organising lecture programmes.