In 1990, the Duchess became patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust. Sarah has since opened most of the charity's various units, including those at Middlesex Hospital, University College London, St James's University Hospital, Cardiff University Hospital and Royal Marsden Hospital. The Duchess began her work with people suffering from motor neurone disease in the 1990s. In her capacity as patron of the Motor Neurone Disease Association, she promoted fundraising campaigns for research about the disease and later became president of the International Alliance for ALS. To help and support those affected by drug misuse, she joined therapy sessions at the Chemical Dependency Center and was later made their patron. In 1993, the Duchess founded Children in Crisis, a children's charity focused on education and grant making to international programmes. The Duchess serves as founder and life president. She founded the charity after meeting a young cancer victim named Anya during her visit to Poland in 1992.