Sanofi announced last week [July 19] the three winners of its 2012 Patient Group Bursary Scheme. 

Ataxia UK walked away with the gold prize and £25,000. Chron's and Colitis UK won Silver and £15,000, and Muscular Dystrophy Campaign was awarded bronze and £10,000.

The three charities won the bursaries after making cases for "ambitious, but realistic, campaigns capable of making a difference to the lives of patients in their respective fields."

Sanofi general manager Steve Oldfield said: "The Patient Group Bursary scheme highlights our enduring commitment to improving care and empowering patients."

"We look forward to seeing these projects come to fruition and deliver real improvements for patients across a variety of disease areas," he added.