History of the Jennifer Trust

The Jennifer Trust was established in 1985 by Anita Macaulay following the death of her daughter Jennifer who had Type I SMA. Jennifer died at the age of seven months. At that time Anita was told that the condition was so rare there was no research being done and that there were possibly only a handful of other families affected by this condition in the country.

Anita initially made contact with other families through a mother and baby magazine, and from that very small beginning the Trust has grown and flourished to become what it is today with nearing 2000 members. An organisation with a reputation for providing a high quality service and funding cutting edge research, which really does provide 'Help for today and Hope for tomorrow'.

Milestones

April 1985	Trust founded
September 1987	First National Family Conference
February 1988	Obtained Charity Status
March 1988	The Contact Family Network Established
June 1988	Equipment Grants Fund Established
September 1988	1st Annual General Meeting and National Executive Committee elected
December 1988	1st Christmas Party
June 1989	1st Member of Staff appointed
December 1989	1st JTSMA Christmas cards on sale
April 1990	Location of the SMA Gene announced
April 1991	European SMA Groups Conference hosted by JTSMA
April 1991	Pre Natal Diagnosis becomes available
June 1991	2nd European SMA Support Group conference
July 1991	1st JTSMA Awareness Week
January 1992	Toy Library established
May 1992	Anita Macaulay appointed as Director
June 1993	Contact Individual Network established
June 1994	'Precious Child' Rose goes on sale
January 1995	Two Genes isolated that are involved in SMA
April 1995	JTSMA is 10 years old
April 1995	Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving
December 1996	JTSMA moves to it's own office in Stratford
April 1997	1st Contact Family Co-ordinator appointed
August 1997	JTSMA web-site established
May 1998	Grant from the National Lottery Charities Board to establish the Young Peoples Network
September 1998	1st issue of Jennifer's Journal
September 1998	John Nettles becomes the new JTSMA patron
December 1999	JTSMA moves to Elta House
January 2000	SMA Mouse Models created for testing of therapeutic treatments for SMA
January 2000	SMN2 Gene Therapy successful in mouse models
March 2000	1st Contact Network Focus Weekend
June 2000	Respiration Working Party established
July 2000	1st Opening the Door conference for young people held in Manchester
2001	Liz Lynne MEP becomes a patron of JTSMA
2001	Find a Friend campaign launched
January 2002	JTSMA chosen as Jeans for Genes guest charity
May 2002	1st Family Care Day, Hammersmith Hospital
2003	JTSMA make a first call for Research Projects
2003	Launch of Angel Funds
2003	Launch of our legacy leaflet 'Hope for Tomorrow'
2003	Appointment of our Positive Management Advisor
December 2004	First edition of teenagers Magazine

See Also

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