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Raoul Follereau
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1903
Raoul Follereau is born
Raoul Follereau was born in 1903 in Nevers, France.
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1935
Raoul Follereau as a spokesperson
Raoul Follereau, a Frenchman, was a journalist as well as philosopher, lawyer and writer. On his travels to North Africa, for the first time in his life, he came face to face with leprosy and leprosy patients. The leprosy patients were not only poverty-stricken, frightened and ill, but also people that had been made outcasts from their own society. Meeting with the leprosy patients in this way was an experience which marked Raoul Follereau, so much so that from then on, he became the spokesperson for all leprosy patients worldwide.
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1954
World Leprosy Day
Raoul Follereau founded the first World Leprosy Day in 1954. Since then, this day has been commemorated every last Sunday in January, in more than 150 countries.
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1964
The Damien Foundation was set up
The World Leprosy Day indirectly led to the Damien Foundation being set up. Different associations in Belgium started collecting money on behalf of the leprosy patients. Each year, these associations would also organise the World Leprosy Day. Finally, in 1964, they all joined forces and became the association "Friends of Father Damien" which later changed its name to «Damien Foundation».
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1977
Raoul Follereau died
Raoul Follereau died in Paris on 6 December.
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