LEPRA, originally known as the British Empire Leprosy Relief Association, is a medical development charity working towards care of people with leprosy (Hansen's disease).

The organisation was founded in 1924 by Sir Leonard Rogers in an attempt to cure all cases of leprosy within the British Empire. In the 1930s it became associated with Toc H and its founder, the Reverend 'Tubby' Clayton , and volunteers were recruited to go to Africa and India, which had some of the highest incidences of the disease. Television and radio appeals boosted the awareness of the charity in the 1960s as LEPRA started work in Malawi.

In 1996 LEPRA worked with the BBC children's television series Blue Peter, raising £2.8m.

External link

• Official site