Dr.PAWPAW is raising thousands for International Women’s Day and here's how you can help

Pauline Paterson, the co-founder of British beauty brand Dr.PAWPAW, is taking part in the Sisterhood Rickshaw Rally 2025 to help raise £350,000 this International Women’s Day.

Australian-born Pauline Paterson co-founded Dr.PAWPAW in 2013, bringing the pawpaw fruit and its healing properties to UK shelves in the form of its original balm. Now, the brand is on its way to becoming a household name with a full range of affordable skin and hair care products available at Anthropologie, Sainsbury's and more.

Not only is the Bromley-based brand on a mission to make people look good but also feel good, which is why it set out to raise over £11,500 for the Teenage Cancer Trust in September 2024. Just months later, it has a new mission - to raise funds for grassroots charities supporting women and girls in India for International Women's Day. Paterson is one of the 60 female entrepreneurs to join The Sisterhood Rickshaw Rally 2025 - a 1,000km rickshaw rally across India from 6-11 March.

Pauline Patterson, co-founder of Dr.PAWPAW

During the six-day mission, participants swap strategy meetings for bumping roads as they weave through the chaotic traffic India is renowned for, from Chennai to Goa. During the trip, they'll stop at key cities including Chennai, Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore and Panaji along the way.

The money raised will go towards:

• Building safe classrooms: Constructing weatherproof, functional schools to improve education access for girls and children with disabilities.
• Skills training for women: Providing training in nursing, IT, and trade skills to help women achieve financial independence.
• Maternal health support: Addressing postpartum anaemia and complications through medical care, nutrition and vital resources for vulnerable mothers.

In addition to Dr.PAWPAW, other brands taking part include the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Killing Kittens, Ideas Fest, Think Tank Academy, Beyond Beautiful and Karma Group.

The group has already raised over £50,000. With one more week to go, they’re calling on supporters to help them reach their ambitious £350,000 target.