Breakspear Hospital Trust was set up by caring supporters of Breakspear Hospital who all have some connection to the hospital as either patients or relatives of patients. Breakspear Hospital is a private clinic that opened in 1982 and has treated over 14,000 patients suffering from food, chemical and other environmental allergies and sensitivities.

On 22 January 2003, we held our first fundraising event which was the charity UK premiere of Jack Nicholson’s award-winning movie, About Schmidt, at Warner’s theatre in Leicester Square, London.

The Entertainment Group kindly donated the premiere of About Schmidt to the charity in December 2003 and Lady Clare Kerr organised the presentation of the movie as well as the after show party in fewer than 6 weeks. Over 400 guests attended, with the guest list including Peter O’Toole, Jeremy Irons, Claire Goose, and Camilla Rutherford. Shortly before the movie viewing, Sir Richard Branson introduced our medical advisor and Breakspear Hospital’s Medical Director, Dr Jean Monro and she presented a short talk on the specialist work at Breakspear Hospital.

On 8 July 2004, the official launch of Breakspear Hospital Trust hosted by sponsoring MP, the Rt Hon Michael Ancram QC MP took place at the House of Commons, London. Michael Ancram’s daughter, Lady Clare Kerr, was treated successfully for ME at Breakspear Hospital in 2001. Clare has written several newspaper articles on her experience and wrote “It was as though clouds had parted ; for the first time a doctor was telling me she understood why I was feeling so ill.”

The Breakspear Hospital Trust will continue to raise money for further research by Breakspear Hospital and will also help fund visits of patients who would not normally be able to afford the private hospital’s services. If you are interested in volunteering at future fundraising events or have any suggestions for future fundraisers, please email us.