About Us

Defeat

Duchenne

for this generation of boys

We envision a world without Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – where children and young adults can live long, full lives, free from this degenerative, muscle-wasting disease.

Our Mission

Alex’s Wish exists to end Duchenne for this generation.

We do this by halting and reversing muscle wasting through funding groundbreaking clinical trials, supporting world-class care, and accelerating access to life-enhancing technologies across the UK.

Our mission is inspired by Alex – a calm, quietly determined and courageous young man living with Duchenne. For more than a decade, Alex has taken part in clinical trials, helping bring vital treatments closer to the families who need them.

His resilience drives our #BeMoreAlex mindset: a can-do philosophy captured in one simple idea – when the world gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Our Philosophy

#BeMoreAlex runs through everything we do to raise funds and awareness – from our fun, community-powered signature events to our “push-yourself” personal challenges.

It’s more than a hashtag. It’s a mindset that turns adversity into action.

#BeMoreAlex brings the joy: gratitude for what we have, optimism for what’s possible, and the strength of a like-minded community determined to squeeze every last drop out of life.

Our values

How We Roll

We lead with a positive, can-do mindset.
If Alex can stay positive while living with Duchenne, so can we. Our focus is on what’s possible and acting on what we can control.

Inspire & Educate

We tell it like it is.
We’re open, honest, and real about life with Duchenne – using our positive voice to inspire action, raise awareness, and empower others to join the mission.

Ambitious

We’re in it to change history.
We act with urgency, think big, and push for real change – determined to defeat Duchenne for this generation.

Collaboration

We’re stronger together.
By working closely with families, supporters, and partners like Duchenne UK, we achieve more and create greater impact.

Family-Focused

People come first.
We value time, flexibility, and balance, and we deeply appreciate the commitment of our family of trustees, volunteers, and supporters.

How we got here

Alex’s Wish (UK registered charity number 1148845) was founded by Emma and Andy Hallam after their son Alex was diagnosed with Duchenne shortly before his fourth birthday.

At the time, support was limited. They were told to take Alex home and live the best life they could. Long-term steroids were the only treatment offered, despite significant side effects. There was no cure, and little hope of medical breakthroughs.

Since Alex’s diagnosis in 2010, Emma has been determined to change that reality. What began as a fight for Alex quickly became a commitment to every child and family affected by Duchenne.

For more than 15 years, Emma and a small, dedicated team – supported by an incredible community of trustees, ambassadors, supporters, and partners – have worked tirelessly to create real, measurable change.

Alex has played his part too, spending much of his young life taking part in clinical trials that have helped advance treatments and deliver genuine progress.
We’re deeply grateful to everyone who helps make progress possible.

Our team

Emma Hallam

CEO & Founder, and Alex’s Mum

Since founding Alex’s Wish after her son Alex’s diagnosis in 2010, Emma has led the charity with unwavering determination to fund treatments and improve outcomes for families living with Duchenne.

Zoe Edwards

Operations & Communications

A long-standing family friend and experienced business professional, Zoe has worked alongside Emma since 2014, bringing structure, clarity, and energy to the charity’s day-to-day operations.

Heather Stone

Admin Manager

With a background in government and a personal connection to Alex’s Wish, Heather ensures the charity runs smoothly through careful organisation and calm, dependable support.

Alex Hallam

Head of Culture

Bio coming soon…

Our trustees

Alexandra Gamble

Chair of Trustees

An experienced events professional and former corporate fundraiser, Alexandra provides strong leadership and fundraising expertise to support the charity’s growth and impact.

Chris Everard

Vice Chair

A former CEO, entrepreneur, and business coach, Chris offers strategic guidance and leadership insight drawn from decades of experience building and advising organisations.

Andy Hallam

Founder & Alex’s Dad

As co-founder, Andy ensures funding is focused on advancing research and getting treatments to patients as quickly as possible, while running his own construction business.

Sandesh Jesrani

Treasurer

An experienced finance professional, Sandesh provides financial oversight and charity-sector experience, driven by a strong belief in the charity’s mission.