Dentists will be undergoing a different kind of drill to scale Britain’s highest mountain on a charity climb later this
month.
Dr Zuber Bagasi and his colleagues Dr Imran Chaddat, Dr Ramki Ginagunta and Dr Ai Ling Lim will be raising money for a charity which brings relief from dental pain to some of the world’s poorest people.
Dr Bagasi, 31, is the founder of Synergy Dental practice on Central Drive, Blackpool.
He also has clinics in Bolton, Bury, Birmingham and Paisley, in Renfrewshire.
The four are not experienced climbers, but are working with sports therapist Arshad Hafezi, who has an osteopathic clinic in Bolton, to prepare for the trip on August 31 to climb the gruelling 4,409ft Ben Nevis, in the Grampian mountains.
The four will be accompanied by an experienced climber and are hoping to raise £5,000 in sponsorship for Bridge2Aid, which has been working in Tanzania for more than 10 years.
The charity increases access to dental pain relief, encouraging people to improve their own lives long-term and training more than 220 local health workers in emergency dentistry.
The charity now trains more than 50 health workers eachyearandplans to expand this number.
They have treated tens of thousands of people in rural areas, and an estimated two million people now live within reach of someone who can help them when they have dental pain.
Dr Bagasi explained: “We take accessible dental care so much for granted in this country without really understanding what it must be like to be in pain and have no hope of dental help. As dentists, we feel passionately that every person should be able to get this help and wanted to assist the charity’s practical work. Bridge2Aid does an amazing job of getting this aid directly to people, even in remote areas, and deserves our ,support.”
Dr Bagasi said he was delighted that more dentists are considering joining the group for the climb.
“Yes, it does seem rather daunting right now,” he added. “But we feel sure it will be a fantastic trip, and we’re determined to raise as much as we can.”
To support the dentists on their charity trip, go to www. uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/synergydental.