About Us
7 Oct 2008
Celebrity support
I am very proud to be a Patron of the Dr Hadwen Trust. The Trust’s practical commonsense approach means that we no longer have to choose between human health and animal wellbeing. That’s why I share the Dr Hadwen Trust’s ideals and urge everyone who cares about people and animals to join with me in supporting the Dr Hadwen Trust. Read Joanna’s thoughts for World Day for Lab Animals 2007
JOANNA LUMLEY OBE and Dr Hadwen Trust Patron
Read our exclusive interview with Joanna Lumley
Making medical advances is important to all of us. But my compassion extends to animals too, which is why I support the Dr Hadwen Trust’s research into human health problems, without animal tests.
ANGELA RIPPON
Surely with imagination and compassion in science, animal experiments can’t be justified in the 21st century! The Dr Hadwen Trust’s research into human illnesses, which can replace animal tests, has to be the right way forward.
ANNETTE CROSBIE
Put simply, I wouldn’t want my cat or dog used in experiments. Non-animal research is already saving people and animals. I support the Dr Hadwen Trust’s work to end the suffering of animals in tests.
ANTON RODGERS
1933 – 2007
The Dr Hadwen Trust was deeply saddened to learn of Anton’s passing and our thoughts and best wishes go to his family.
Some are working for mankind, some are working for womankind, and some are working for animalkind, that’s all good, but the Dr Hadwen Trust is working for everykind. Their work is good for every thing that lives and every thing that seeks a better, less painful life. The fact that they have been doing it for over 35 years means that these humane researchers are professional, dedicated, and compassionate. I want to be with them, I want the world to know that there is another way.
BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH
As science develops, so too should ethics. It’s great to see an organisation which helps to prevent pain and suffering in humans without causing pain and suffering to animals. Excellent work Dr Hadwen Trust. Read Brooke’s thoughts for World Day for Lab Animals 2007
BROOKE JOHNSTON,
Miss United Kingdom 2005
Read our exclusive interview with Brooke Johnston
The future must lie in organisations such as the Dr Hadwen Trust, whose ethics prohibit the use of animals for moral and logical reasons. I support them entirely.
CAROL ROYLE
If people realised that in the UK it’s still perfectly legal for monkeys to be deliberately brain damaged, for dogs to be force fed poisons or for guinea-pigs to be infected with disease and left to die a slow and painful death, they would be appalled – I know I am. It’s all the more shocking because I know it’s totally unnecessary and not even good science. Charities like the Dr Hadwen Trust are dedicated to funding vital medical research to help humans that doesn’t harm a single animal, and I applaud their efforts. It’s just not enough to say we don’t like animals to suffer if we don’t do anything about it. So for this World Day for Laboratory Animals, make a pledge to support science without suffering so that both animals and humans can benefit from cruelty-free research.
CHRISSIE HYNDE, rock legend
If there’s a way forward for medical research – without using animals – I’m 100% behind it.
CHRISTOPHER TIMOTHY
As a wildlife artist who owes all his success to the animals he paints, and consequently a deeply committed conservationist, I sometimes think that there is no limit to the depths to which man’s depravity descends. Nevertheless, one is encouraged beyond measure by the knowledge that organisations such as the Dr Hadwen Trust, of which I have the honour to be a Patron, are doing such marvelous work to educate us into showing deeper compassion to our fellow creatures.
DAVID SHEPHERD OBE FRSA FRGS and Dr Hadwen Trust Patron
It’s so refreshing to be able to support such a positive organisation as the Dr Hadwen Trust. Using the latest research methods they are helping to unravel the mysteries of human illness without causing animals to suffer in the laboratory.
DAWN FRENCH
By funding alternatives to animal research, the Dr Hadwen Trust can demonstrate that they are not only possible and preferable, but actually very successful.
SIR DEREK JACOBI
It’s crucial that we have research to develop treatments for terrible illnesses such as cancer. No-one can disagree with that. But does this need to be at the expense of animals? The work of the Dr Hadwen Trust proves that this doesn’t have to be the case, when they are able to achieve great scientific advances purely through using alternative methods.
EAMONN HOLMES
I support the Dr Hadwen Trust’s work to make animal experiments a thing of the past.
FERN BRITTON
Like most people, I have friends and family who have been affected by serious illness, so medical research to alleviate suffering is vitally important to me. However, I simply don’t believe that animal experiments are the most effective way forward. I have no doubt that researching illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, cancer or diabetes using sophisticated, high-tech, modern non-animal techniques already offers us better quality science. For the sake of human health and animal welfare we should commit to an animal-testing free future. That’s why I fully support the Dr Hadwen Trust and Science Without Suffering, because it reminds us that replacing animal experiments is not only scientifically possible but also morally desirable.
If we did to our pets what is done to animals in the laboratory, we would face prosecution for animal cruelty. What millions of dogs, rabbits, monkeys and mice suffer in the name of science is heart-breaking and I believe we have a moral responsibility to end their suffering. I also think we have a moral responsibility to ourselves to properly fund and support the most relevant and reliable medical research and that means non-animal techniques.
FIONA PHILLIPS, journalist and GMTV presenter
Please tell a friend about the Dr Hadwen Trust’s work.
DAME HELEN MIRREN
I am shocked that in the 21st century, animals like monkeys, dogs and rabbits still suffer terrible pain and distress in UK experiments. We mustn’t turn a blind eye to their plight, so on World Day for Laboratory Animals show your support for science without suffering. We all want to see a future where animal testing is a thing of the past – charities like the Dr Hadwen Trust are making that a reality today.
HOLLY DAVIDSON, actress
I wholeheartedly support the Dr Hadwen Trust’s research into new ways to treat terrible human illnesses such as cancer, because no animal experimentation is involved. As we move into a new century, this approach, showing compassion for both humans and animals is surely the way to go.
DR JANE GOODALL
I support the Dr Hadwen Trust because it looks for alternatives and because the research it funds tackles some of the biggest problems we face.
JOHN HUMPHRYS
It is no longer – if it ever was – justifiable to use the lives of other species to experiment upon in the hope of finding cures for specifically human maladies. The results from the vast majority of such experiments have proved to be inconclusive regards their value to human beings while causing the deaths and suffering of literally millions of non-human animals every year. Organisations such as the Dr Hadwen Trust that have chosen to adopt a more creative approach to the problem have demonstrated that there are more ethical, efficient and successful ways to discover cures to human diseases. It is my earnest hope and prayer that the day will soon come when legislation will be enacted that will conclude the same.
JOSEF BROWN, actor
(currently starring in Dirty Dancing at the Aldwych Theatre)
Medical research is vital but, at the beginning of a new Millennium there is growing concern for all life on the planet. I support the Dr Hadwen Trust’s work to make animal experiments a thing of the past. Read Dame Judi’s thoughts for World Day for Lab Animals 2007
DAME JUDI DENCH
With a little careful thought it should be clear that the end never justifies the means. So many of our current problems stem from a misunderstanding of this. If alternatives exist to animal abuse and cruelty, we are diminished and degraded by failing to use them.
MARTIN SHAW, actor
When the Dr Hadwen Trust told me that laboratory animals like monkeys, dogs and rabbits are still enduring extreme suffering in British laboratories, I was shocked. I believe in treating other animals with compassion and kindness, and so that’s why I support medical research without animal testing. The Dr Hadwen Trust shows us that we don’t have to hurt animals to research illnesses like Parkinson’s disease, cancer or AIDS because there are so many better non-animal techniques available now. Supporting ‘Science Without Suffering’ means everybody wins – animals are saved from pain and distress whilst people benefit from more modern research methods that are already saving lives.
MELANIE C, music artist
I am 200% with you. I agree entirely with your aims.
DR PATRICK MOORE CBE, FRAS
As an institution, the practice of research on animals is based on speciesism – that is, the prejudice against giving equal consideration to the similar interests of animals and of humans. Support for the Dr Hadwen Trust in finding non-animal replacements in medical research will help to prevent animal suffering, and will benefit human animals too. We need to find more non-animal replacement techniques and encourage researchers to be innovative in pursuing this goal.
PROFESSOR PETER SINGER
The best argument against animal experiments is the discovery and development of alternative methods of research – vigorously pursued and properly funded.
RORY BREMNER
I don’t like to see any animal suffering. They’re immune systems are different, so I don’t think scientifically animal experiments help that much… All you have to do is go to Monkey World in Dorset to see the monkeys that have been taken from labs, to see they’re still in pain, to see it’s not compassionate.
SEAN HUGHES
I fully support not testing on animals for medical research. The more public awareness and support, a charity like yours receives, the better. Keep up the good work to end suffering and save the animals from this awful fate.
SHAUNA LOWRY
Medical Research without the use of animals is surely the sign of a truly civilised society.
STELLA McCARTNEY
Non-animal research is already saving people and animals. I fully support the Dr Hadwen Trust’s work to end the suffering of animals in medical research.
SUE BARKER
Where research without animals is at all possible, it has to be the only choice.
SUEDE
It’s crucial that we have research to develop treatments for terrible illnesses such as cancer. No-one can disagree with that. But does this need to be at the expense of animals?
SUE JOHNSTON
Progress without compassion is not progress.
TIM PIGGOT-SMITH
Non-animal research is already saving people and animals. I fully support the Dr Hadwen Trust’s work to end the suffering of animals in medical research.
TONY BLACKBURN
The Dr Hadwen Trust is funding research into cancer, brain tumours, wound healing, dementia and other illnesses. Other organisations are doing that too. But it is the fact that the Trust does so entirely without animal experiments that makes me a Dr Hadwen Trust supporter.
TOYAH WILLCOX
Surely it is the least of all rights to be spared the worst of all wrongs.
DR WALTER HADWEN
I fully endorse the ideals of the Dr Hadwen Trust.
WENDY RICHARD
I would encourage anyone who holds both human and animal welfare in high regard to join the Dr Hadwen Trust today. Advances in medical research are vital to us all. However, I would dearly love to see animal experimentation disappear forever, together with all the suffering it brings to so many animals. It is clear to me that the Dr Hadwen Trust is absolutely key to achieving this.
WENDY TURNER WEBSTER
Miss United Kingdom, Brooke Johnstone, shares her feelings about animals and ethics
Brooke, who was raised in Canada, was busy juggling her role as Miss UK with her studies in broadcast journalism when the Dr Hadwen Trust caught up with her. The charity’s Rachel Williamson chatted with Brooke about her enthusiastic support for animal rights issues.
Rachel: How did you become a vegetarian?
Brooke: I became vegetarian almost 13 years ago. I was taking a class on environmental geography in school and a girl did a presentation on why she was a vegetarian. I came from a very ‘meat and potato’ type of family so I had never before considered a veggie diet. I listened to her talk about the health and environmental benefits but when she described the conditions of animals on factory farms I was appalled. I had never realised that these ‘farmers’ were profit driven with no regard for animal welfare. I decided at that moment I could not support an industry which causes such suffering and abuse.
R: Do you try to be ‘ethical’ in other aspects of your lifestyle?
B: As a consumer, I try to have a conscience by purchasing cruelty-free goods, organic food and products that weren’t created by exploited labour. I think the more people who demand such products, the more industries (who are profit driven and will see the niche in the market) will supply them.
R: Have you been able to use your title (as Miss United Kingdom) to promote causes you believe in?
B: The Miss UK organisation has encouraged me to pursue charitable causes that are close to my heart. The profile I have received from being Miss UK has allowed me to work on awareness campaigns surrounding animal rights abuses, which is an important issue to me. I had the opportunity to do an ad with PETA to promote vegetarianism, cruelty-free beauty and fashion, and also to work with issues regarding endangered species.
R: How do you feel about vivisection?
B: The vivisection debate is an interesting one. I neither want to see animals suffer from testing, nor humans suffer from disease. But the testing that goes on for scientific research is inhumane and should not be allowed to continue in our ‘civilised’ society. Also, as a beauty queen I use a lot of cosmetics but I boycott all companies that test their products (or their products’ components) on animals. I would encourage people not to allow vanity to override ethics.
R: You’ve recently learned of the Dr Hadwen Trust’s work. What do you think about it?
B: I was recently made aware of the Dr Hadwen Trust by some of my connections with animal rights organisations. I think scientific development without cruelty is an idea that everyone can appreciate (except maybe those involved in breeding animals for labs…). If it has positive outcomes for patients and animals, it’s a win/win situation.