The Fund's purpose is to encourage a positive relationship between patients and the medical profession. Started in memory of Edwin Doubleday by members of his family, the focus of the Fund's effort is medical education.

Our means of making a positive contribution is to make an annual award to an individual of standing who has made a significant contribution to the area of medical practice in which we are interested.  We give bursaries and grants to medical students and support the developments which inform curricular change.

Rabbi Julia Neuberger was the first recipient of the Doubleday/Manchester Award in January 2002 at Manchester University. She delivered a lively and thought provoking public lecture on "Doctors, patients, consent and understanding - is there a new compact out there?"  Her contribution sets the pattern for subsequent recipients.

This years award winner was Professor Alan Emery who is well know for his work on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, but in this instance has been recognised for his support of patients and their families. He used his lecture on "Medicine in Art" to draw out the historical, sociological and humanitarian which are central to a broad view of medical practice.

The next Award ceremony will be held in October 2008. An announcement will be made later in the year.

We like to make our fundraising a bit quirky and unexpected. Our events have ranged form a concert of romantic Afghan music to a tem of four women running to Paris – a distance of 137 miles in an outstanding 61 hours. See the photos here .