Action Medical Research celebrates 40 years with its official mascot Paddington Bear

Paddington Bear has been at the heart of fundraising for UK-wide children's charity Action Medical Research ever since his creator, Michael Bond, met founder Duncan Guthrie back in 1976. Since then, Paddington's friendly face has helped to attract thousands of new supporters who together have raised millions of pounds to help babies and children.

Action Medical Research is currently funding research into meningitis, Down syndrome, epilepsy and premature birth, as well as some rare and distressing conditions that severely affect children.