Our UK Trustees

Arun Patel BCAh

Born in Uganda in 1953, Arun contracted polio soon after his first birthday leaving his left leg paralyzed. He realized early on that a solid education would open up opportunities for him in careers that did not rely on physical abilities. After completing schooling in Uganda, he moved to England where he was among the top ten candidates to qualify as a Chartered Accountant in his year. He worked for KPMG International Cooperative, one of the Big Four accounting organizations and later went on to build his own accounting firm from the ground up.

After selling his firm, Arun and his 2 brothers founded Polio Children, registered charities in the UK and the USA, with the primary mission of providing opportunities to children struck with polio and other neuromuscular disorders so that they too could have a chance to live independent lives with dignity and pride.

 Arun is married and has two sons and 2 grand-daughters

Mayoor Patel BCAo

Mayoor is Arun’s youngest brother. He too grew up in Uganda but had to leave the country during the Asian exodus of 1972. He completed his schooling at the Marlborough College and higher education at the University of Surrey. He has worked for over 30 years in business and finance setting up and advising both large and small companies.

From a very young age, Mayoor was impressed how his older brother was better than him at badminton, tennis, and cricket despite his physical limitations. Convinced that polio only makes one differently able rather than disabled, Mayoor has made it his personal mission to spread the message. He works closely with several NGOs in the UK and in India that are devoted to the welfare of underprivileged and handicapped children.

Mayoor and Subhdra have one daughter.

Subhdra Patel

Subhdra started doing charitable work at the age of eight. Her first encounter with polio was in 1984, when as Mayoor’s fiancée,  she met Arun She did not, though, realize until several years later when  visiting India that polio could be a debilitating disease that, when combined with poverty, could set back a person’s life for good. She has been with Polio Children from its inception and works on the administration and fund raising for the charity. She regularly visits Polio Children sites around the world.

Subhdra works in finance and has previously worked for Goldman Sachs.

Tajinder Singh Marway, Trustee

Tajinder Singh Marway

Tajinder came to the UK to pursue higher education. He has a long and distinguished career in information technology and telecommunications. He was surprised one day to learn about the work his neighbours, Arun and Mayoor, were doing in India and elsewhere to help polio and other disadvantaged children. He was immediately moved by their efforts and volunteered to work with their charity. He attributes his own success to having been given the opportunity to be educated and hopes that his charitable efforts will give others the same possibilities.

Tajinder is married and has two children.

Deepak 'Dip' Tanna, Trustee

Dipak Tanna

Dip was introduced to Polio Children while watching West Ham United play in East London where he met Arun Patel in the bleachers. He has been actively supporting various charities, including Polio Children, through his passion for the outdoors. He cycled and climbed Mt. Kenya to raise funds for a water project in Kenya. Years later, he climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise funds for Polio Children and another charity.


Born in Kenya, Dip moved to the UK to study engineering and mathematics. He is the founder of Talkdata Limited, an information technology company.

Dip is married and has two boys.

Dr Shirish Patel

Dr. Shirish Patel

Shirish is Arun’s middle brother. He completed his schooling in Uganda, obtained his medical degree from the M.S. University of Baroda, and M.R.C.Psych. from the UK before immigrating to the USA. He served as the Chief of Psychiatry at the VA Medical Center, Canandaigua, New York and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester New York before retiring.

Shirish has been and continues to be motivated by Gandhi’s philosophy: “To find yourself, lose yourself in the service of others.” He spends his winters teaching mental health at Homeopathic and Social Work Colleges in India.

Shirish is married and has one daughter.

Dr Devik Patel

Dr. Devik Patel

Devik has seen his father, Arun go a long way with his involvement in the charity field and decided to step in and start preparing his generation to start taking interest in Polio Children. He practices as a dentist in Nottingham.

Devik is married and has two daughters.

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