CHLOE Docker (née Ball-Hopkins) has been involved with Muscular Dystrophy UK since she was eight years old, after being diagnosed with nemaline myopathy, a rare muscle-weakening condition, at a young age.
A powerful advocate for disability rights, Chloe, now 28, has been co-opted to Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Board of Trustees, making her the youngest trustee in the charity’s 65-year history. From speaking at corporate events to jumping out of a plane for the charity, her aim has always been to build a more inclusive and equal world for people living with conditions like hers – helping the charity to increase awareness and raise money to support others and fund groundbreaking research.
Living with nemaline myopathy, Chloe has grown up with few people understanding what is going to happen to her. Chloe said:
“My condition is rare, so GPs generally don’t understand what it is. It’s often left to me to explain the effects or point people to Muscular Dystrophy UK’s website to find out more.
“I realised from a young age that if healthcare professionals need me to explain my condition to them and even the leading hospitals and experts can’t tell me how it will deteriorate, then I just need to make the best of what I have and go with it.”
Disability rights is something that has always been important to Chloe. She has worked with online fashion brand ASOS to design wheelchair-friendly clothing and has also represented Great Britain in Para Archery, breaking world records and winning medals in 2014 and 2015. An injury meant that she missed out on a place in the team for the Rio 2016 Paralympics, but she went on to pursue a career as a journalist and currently works as a Senior Studio Producer at Dyson.
Throughout her life, Chloe has always focused on finding solutions and working to change people’s perceptions and she hopes that becoming a trustee at Muscular Dystrophy UK will enable her to improve society further.
Chloe said:
“I have lots of great memories working with Muscular Dystrophy UK over the years. Speaking at the Microscope Ball and visiting the charity’s garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show recently were definite highlights, but what I enjoy most is having the opportunity to tell people about what it’s like to live with the condition and raising awareness about muscular dystrophies. I hope we can build a more inclusive and equal world for people with conditions like mine, and any form of health condition or disability. People’s perceptions need to change to eliminate limitations. My hope for the future is a society that doesn’t disable me anymore.
“I’m honoured to become a trustee of Muscular Dystrophy UK, and the timing is just so right. I’ve been an ambassador for the charity for two decades this year and have been wondering what more I can do. I can’t wait to join the incredible members of the Board and help contribute at this next level.”
Professor Mike Hanna, Chair of Muscular Dystrophy UK said:
“We’re delighted to welcome Chloe to the team as a trustee. She has already done so much for the charity over the last 20 years, and we look forward to working with her in this new capacity and benefitting from the considerable knowledge and experience she brings.”
Chloe was co-opted to the Muscular Dystrophy UK Board of Trustees in July 2024 and formally voted onto the Board at the charity’s AGM in October.
Find out more about Muscular Dystrophy UK at: www.musculardystrophyuk.org.
