11 May 2010: Well all the worrying, waiting and planning is all over - I can't believe that it is all over already! I had an amazing time in Bukumbi with the friends I have now made from the team that went across to rebuild a community centre in the village and came home with pride, a sense of schivement, new friends and a lot of blue paint stuck on their nails! I will be updating this page with details from the trip for those who don't receive Dental Tribune and a big thank you to everyone who has supported me along the way. I will continue to campaign and fundraise for B2A and the work they are doing to improve oral health and make a difference to the lives of a community shunned by its own society. Keep your eyes open!
6 April 2010: Only a few weeks to go now before I leave for Tanzania, and it is really getting close! My mind is now turning to what I need to take and how much Swahili I haven't learnt so far, but I am really looking forward to it.
On Saturday (April 10) I am joining a team of colleagues from Schulke UK who will be on the B2A trip to do a fundraising walk at Bewl Water in Kent. I will have an extra challenge as I will be carrying my daughter Emily (nearly 5) who will be coming with me and will probably decide half way round that she needs a cuddle! So please dig deep and support me and the team.
Stop press - Big thanks to John and Tash for today's donation!!
17 Feb 2010: A Big thank you to everyone who has supported me so far - I really appreciate it!
The trip seems to be coming up fast and is becoming more real to me every day! The only downside so far in the preparations is the aching arms after having my travel jabs, but it soon fades and at least I can be safe in the knowledge I protected from harm, unlike those who live there and who can fall prey to these deadly diseases.
Keep a look out for another update soon....
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
I am raising funds to help renovate a community centre in the village of Bukumbi - a place in the North of Tanzania near the city of Mwanza. Bukumbi is a care centre for some of the country's poor and disabled, giving them a chance to receive medical care, shelter, and a way to generate an income for themselves through a series of enterprises such as basket making and selling.
In April I will be travelling out to Bukumbi with a group of colleagues from the dental industry (Schulke, Henry Schein) and we will be helping to get the community centre suitable for use. It'll be hard and dirty work, but it will be worth it to the people there who will then have a central meeting place to use. I will also be covering this in my capacity as editor of Dental Tribune, and hope to raise the profile not only of the valuable work done in Tanzania by the B2A (Bridge2Aid) team, but what a small group of individuals with the will and the energy can achieve.
I'd really appreciate any support family, friends and colleagues can give to me by donating to this page and helping me to reach my target.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.