On the night of December 2nd, 1984, a defective tank at the Union Carbide pesticide factory in Bhopal began leaking 27 tonnes of deadly methyl isocyanate gas into the air. 

Local residents awoke in terror, eyes burning, lungs choked, searching in desperation for their loved ones as they attempted to flee the clouds of toxic vapour. Unfortunately thousands of local people that morning never woke up.

The consequences of this tragedy are still felt today, as more than 120,000 people continue to suffer from illnesses and deformities caused by the accident, as well as the effects of toxic pollutants that still poison local water sources.

Dow Chemicals, who now own Union Carbide, have refused to clean up the site, provide safe drinking water, compensate the victims or disclose the composition of the gas leak, information that doctors could use to properly treat the victims.

The Bhopal Medical Appeal, is a charity that I have been working for since June last year. They fundraise to provide health care for the survivors of the Bhopal gas tragedy, the world’s worst industrial disaster.

Since I started, a goal of mine has been to do my own personal fundraiser to help support the charity. I’m hoping to achieve this and help raise awareness of Bhopal, by running the Brighton Half Marathon in February. Dow are relying on people forgetting this tragedy, so in my small way I’m ensuring it remains visible and relevant. 

I am aiming to raise £500. This money will go towards providing disabled children with special education classes, paying for their speech therapy, covering the costs of a month’s worth of their physiotherapy, while also funding a community health worker for 2 weeks and helping to supply 6 doctors with a set of medical examination tools for one year.

If you would like to help this very worthwhile cause, I encourage you to make a donation. Unlike big charities with large overheads, a donation to Bhopal Medical Appeal will see all of your money reach the people most in need.