“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
– Mr Rogers
If you’ve been upset by events in the news in the past weeks, months and even years, you’re not alone. Which is why we are happy to be able to bring you some good news. We were all incredibly touched by a recent Facebook post by our implant surgeon, Richard Brookshaw and thought we should share it with you. Richard recently returned from Greece where he has been helping bring essential dental care to the refugee camps that have sadly become commonplace.
Richard was volunteering with Dentaid and the Health Point Foundation, a large international charity that provides dental care to people in need throughout the world. Dentaid sends much-needed dental equipment, treats people in need, provides education on dental care and helps to train dentists around the world. The Health Point Foundation runs brings health and dental care to some of the most vulnerable people in the world.
This isn’t the first time Richard has been involved with inspiring voluntary work. In 2016, Richard travelled to Uganda to help treat adults and children who would have no access to dental care. He visited schools, children’s prisons and rural areas in order to provide much-needed treatment and train therapists in the region to be able to provide dental care to their communities.
Richard is also involved in home-grown charity projects here in the UK. Dentaid and The Real Junk Food Project joined forces in Yorkshire for The Real Junk Tooth Project. As part of The Real Junk Tooth Project, Richard advises junior surgeons on how to treat homeless patients, Asylum seekers and others who might be suffering but don’t have access to NHS dental care.
Richard explains his trip much better than we ever could, so we hope he doesn’t mind us sharing an extract of his post with you:
“Just on my way home after a truly inspiring week in Greece with Dentaid/ Health Point Foundation at various refugee camps. The variety of people we saw in terms of ethnic background, religion and age was astounding.
With all the horrors going on in this precious world at the moment, it makes you realise that we are all different also so alike.
All flowers of the one same garden.
Leaves of one tree.
Beautiful in our differences, which are there to be celebrated and not as a means of discord as we see some groups attempting to do right now.
The Earth is but one country and humankind are its citizens. To see it first hand is both troubling and inspiring in equal measure. To embrace, smile and laugh with a fellow human being whom you’ve never met before simply because you show respect and kindness is truly humbling.
I feel thankful and blessed to be given the opportunity to serve.”
If you’d like to get involved with Dentaid, the Health Point Foundation or The Real Junk Tooth Project, follow the links below to find out more or to donate your time or money:
https://dentaid.org/
https://healthpointfoundation.org/
http://therealjunktoothproject.org/
