Meet Kiran Gandhi. The 26-year-old has a Harvard MBA and was the former drummer for M.I.A.
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She ran this year’s London marathon on the first day of her period — without a tampon or sanitary towel. And it was all for a very good reason.
When Kiran Gandhi realised she was going to be on her period on the day of her first-ever marathon, she decided to use the opportunity to raise awareness of the millions of women who have no access to tampons.
“A marathon in itself is a centuries old symbolic act. Why not use it as a means to draw light to my sisters who don’t have access to tampons and, despite cramping and pain, hide it away like it doesn’t exist?”
“Only 12% of women in India use sanitary pads or tampons,” Kiran says in her blog. And if you think this is a problem unique to developing countries, think again.
Kiran reminds us that “more than 40 million women in the US live on the brink of poverty. A yearly supply of sanitary pads/or tampons averages $70.00 a year (and they are not covered by food stamps).
Kiran was also motivated to “run free” because of the shame still associated with periods.
“We ran for women who can’t show their periods in public and for women who can’t compete in athletic events. We ran for our friends who have suffered through period cramps at work and for women who have survived breast cancer.”
And for people who think Kiran’s act is disgusting, she has a message: “I don’t care if people want to make fun of me. I felt good doing it, it’s my life, and it’s my story.”