Leah Pattison

An arts graduate, originally from County Durham, Leah Pattison founded ‘START’ following a working holiday to India. During her stay, Leah taught English to young girls at a leprosy colony in Central India. It was here that she realised her deep desire to contribute to women who had been branded outcasts by society. Known as the “Angel of Nagpur”, Leah is one of only two people working in Nagpur, India, supporting leprosy victims in their community. Qualifying as a leprosy paramedic at the Gandhi Memorial Leprosy Foundation, Leah contracted the disease herself. Refusing to return to the UK for treatment, she remained in India to continue her work. Only after a year’s treatment by a World Health Organisation specialist did she make a full recovery.

Fully cured and newly qualified as a paramedic, Pattison has found her vocation in caring women patients in other leprosy colonies throughout India. Leah recognised how women were expected to care for their husbands if the men contracted leprosy. But if the husbands and fathers discover their wives and daughters have been infected, the women end up being abused, mistreated and ultimately evicted from the family home. Some women lepers have been doused in petrol and burnt to death. Others as they grew old without hands or feet as they become more disfigured and blind.

Now in her eighth year of helping women suffering from leprosy and the stigma associated with this disease, Leah remains committed to helping her hundreds of patients improve their quality of life. Leah's early achievements were acknowledged by the late Diana Princess of Wales who said she ‘drew inspiration from her efforts’. Leah was also recognised by the Queen in 2004 at the ‘Women of Achievement’ luncheon held at Buckingham Palace and recently became the recipient of The Frink Award from the eminent ‘Woman of The Year’ panel for her selfless contribution.

START was formed in August 2000 and is dedicated to supporting the efforts of Leah Pattison. Working in the slums of Nagpur, India, Leah and her colleague Usha Patil have treated and cared for women suffering from leprosy. Providing clothing, shelter and education in order to give marginalised women a quality of life and a sense of community. In addition START provides legal advice, vocational training and loans to establish small business collectives. In an environment where women are usually treated as second-class citizens, sufferers are often abused, even evicted from their homes by their families and forced to beg on the streets to survive. Even in the 21st century, leprosy continues to affect millions of people worldwide. They have already taken a big step forward in the fields of care, education and integration of sufferers back in to their communities.

“People like Leah are a shining example of selfless devotion to others in this world less fortunate than themselves. People like Leah respond to need wherever it is found. They are symbols of hope in an increasingly cynical world. Their work needs to be acknowledged to a wider audience if for no other reason than they provide much needed inspiration and to prove that there is nothing that cannot be achieved if there is the will and commitment".

Judith Bainbridge, Chair, START

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