I am Abraham George from the CMC Vellore MBBS batch of 1973.

In April 2026 I will be running the London Marathon MyWay, covering the full 26.2 miles around Hyde Park and central London. Unless I am fortunate enough to secure a place through the ballot, this will be my route.

This year, as in previous years, I am aiming to raise £5,000 for the Friends of Vellore Paediatric Subsidy Fund.

The Paediatric Subsidy Fund was established in February 2022 to support children admitted to Christian Medical College, Vellore, whose families could not otherwise afford the cost of essential or life-changing treatment. The fund was set up in partnership between Friends of Vellore UK and the Development Office at CMC. Applications are made by the treating departments and are approved by the Deputy Director of Gifts and Grants, with up to £1,000 available for a single child’s care.

The fund was created with the intention that no child should be denied treatment because of poverty. It covers inpatient and outpatient treatment, surgery and follow up care. To date, it has received four instalments of £10,000 each from Friends of Vellore UK and by the end of 2024 nearly 28 lakh rupees had been used to help children and families in need. So far 28 children have been supported across a wide range of departments, including ENT, paediatrics, oncology, neurosurgery and child health.

These children come from poor and rural backgrounds where the cost of specialist treatment is far beyond what a family could manage. The fund has not only given children the chance of recovery but has also lifted an enormous burden from families already under great emotional and financial strain.

The paediatric teams at CMC treat thousands of children every year. The need for support remains high and every contribution to this fund goes directly towards the care of a child who might otherwise be turned away.

I will be logging my training and progress on Strava and I hope you will follow along as I prepare for the marathon. Along the way I will share updates from CMC and the paediatric department so that you can see the difference your generosity is making.

Your support, however large or small, will make a real and lasting difference in the life of a child. Thank you for standing with me in this cause.