Charity champion scoops top award

Judy Dewinter, 60, from London, has been named Charity Champion in Woman & Home magazine​’s prestigious Amazing Women Awards 2025, featured in the October print edition.

Judy is chair of the Royal Free Charity, which supports the work of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. She was recognised for her exceptional leadership in transforming patient outcomes through innovation, strategic investment and bold, long-term thinking in the NHS charity sector.

At just 33, Judy was diagnosed with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, and given only 18 months to live. Drawing on her background in finance, she dedicated her life to improving treatment and care for patients. She chaired the board of Myeloma UK for 13 years, becoming its first president, before taking on her current role with the Royal Free Charity in 2019.

Under her leadership, the Royal Free Charity has:

• Delivered a £62 million project to create the Pears Building, a bespoke home for the UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Europe’s leading centre for immune system research.
• Provided seed funding for a new NHS clinical research facility, now attracting millions in external investment for pioneering drug trials.
• Acquired the UK’s first total-body PET-CT scanner, dramatically improving diagnosis times and reducing radiation exposure.

Speaking about the award, Judy said: ​“It means a great deal. It recognises the power of NHS charities to make a real difference to patients.”

Reflecting on her journey from diagnosis to driving systemic change, she told W&H: ​“When I was diagnosed 27 years ago, I was given 18 months to live. Our advocacy at Myeloma UK led to NHS access to a groundbreaking drug that doubled survival rates over five years. Many thousands of patients benefitted and still benefit from this. I might not be alive today without it.”

Judy now brings that same determination to the Royal Free Charity, which is preparing to launch a £50 million fundraising campaign to build a new cancer centre at the Royal Free Hospital.

“NHS charities go beyond the limitations of public funding,” she said. ​“Being part of this sector allows me to apply my experience, both as a patient and business leader, to shape high-impact initiatives that deliver meaningful, lasting change.”

When asked which woman inspires her most, she paid tribute to the female nurses at the Royal Free Hospital, describing their professionalism and compassion as ​“deeply inspiring.”

Jon Spiers, chief executive of the Royal Free Charity, said: ​“This recognition couldn’t be more deserved. Judy brings a unique blend of lived experience, strategic insight and fierce determination to everything she does. Her leadership has transformed what we’re able to achieve as a charity, and her story continues to inspire our staff, our supporters and the wider NHS charity sector. We’re proud and grateful to have her at the helm.”

Peter Landstrom, group chief executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, said: ​“We are so proud of Judy for winning this award and I would like to share my congratulations on behalf of everybody at the Royal Free London (RFL). 

“Judy has been a tireless supporter of the RFL for many years, first in her role as lead governor and more recently as chair of the Royal Free Charity. Judy’s determination to improve our patients’ experience and support our staff to deliver world class care is awe-inspiring. It is lovely that Judy has chosen to pay tribute to the staff that helped her during her treatment. I know that for staff getting a thank you from patients means so much.”

Sophie Castell, chief executive of Myeloma UK, said: ​“Judy’s tireless commitment to Myeloma UK and, in particular, the development of, approval, and access to new treatments has changed the lives for so many people affected by myeloma. It’s wonderful to see her foresight and hard work being recognised in this way.”