The Virtual Doctors is a fab charity that is making a real impact. In Zambia, many people can only access rural health centres with very limited resources for their health care. These clinics are staffed by clinical officers. They do an amazing job, but are not doctors and don't always have the necessary skills or knowledge butt is difficult for them to seek advice. The Virtual Doctors uses smartphones to link these clinical officers to UK docs so they can discuss cases and seek much needed advice. Feedback shows this advice is vital to both patients and the clinical officers. And it can change and save lives.

There are currently 80 UK volunteer docs on the team that offers this advice. Louise and I are two of them, plus I help on the co-ordination side too. We are doing this around our day jobs as volunteers. The charity relies entirely upon the generosity of supporters to fund their work and fundraising is tough! So we are are trying to help by taking part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon on 14 October. With your help we will be raising some of the vital funds to continue this work, and to expand services within Zambia and to trial it in neighbouring Malawi later this year.

Please give whatever you can afford!

Many thanks.