The chief executive of a Hampshire charity, who led the first disabled expedition to the North and South Pole, has received an MBE from Princess Anne.

CEO of The Muscle Help Foundation (MHF) charity, Michael McGrath MBE DL, received his Member of the Order of the British Empire award on June 12 at Windsor Castle.

This was in recognition of his charitable services to people with muscular dystrophy (MD).

The charity, which celebrates its 21st anniversary this year, organises and facilitates highly personalised interventions, called Muscle Dreams, for the vulnerable aged from eight to 28 years old living with the condition across the UK.

MD are a group of inherited genetic conditions which gradually cause the muscles to weaken, leading to an increasing level of disability, according to the NHS.

The personalised programmes which deliver physiological and psychological benefits that improve emotional and mental wellness are designed to be restorative and uplifting.

Michael’s MBE award was first announced in the King’s Birthday 2023 honours list last June.

Reacting after he received the award, Michael said: “When I heard the news last year, I was totally overwhelmed. Being at Windsor Castle nearly one year on with my loved ones meant the world.

“I was so happy that my 88-year-old mum was there to witness the moment when Princess Anne pinned the award on my chest. This recognition is for all those who have supported the Muscle Help Foundation charity’s journey along the way over the past 21 years.

“My heart also goes out to every single beneficiary, their often exhausted mums and dads, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties and all those who unconditionally and selflessly care for those living with this cruel and unforgiving condition that robs sufferers of their mobility, and finally for those with the most severe form, their lives.

“Right now, whilst care is at the forefront in a lot of people’s minds, in 2023 the charity lost nine of its Muscle Warrior beneficiaries – the average age was just 19 years old. This is the harsh reality of a condition that is currently incurable.”

To raise awareness of MD, Michael led expeditions to the Arctic and the Antarctic in 2002 and 2004 respectively, making history by becoming the first person in the world to have led expeditions to both the North and South poles.