Kendal duo travels to Lebanon to provide dental care for Syrian refugees
A dental duo from Kendal has travelled to Lebanon to provide much-needed dental care for refugees.
Dentist, Arfan Iqbal and dental nurse, Tracey Topping, from Sandes Avenue Dental Practice, will spend a week in Lebanon, visiting Syrian refugee camps and offering dental treatment and pain relief. Mrs Topping, from Bolton-le-Sands, said that she was nervous about the trip, but also incredibly excited to be involved in such an important project.
Mrs Topping decided that she wanted to do something to help after watching news bulletins and hearing about the plight of hundreds of people who had lost their homes, possessions and relatives. After suggesting the idea to her colleagues, Mr Iqbal took an interest and decided to do some research to find out the best ways to help. The duo then decided to get in touch with Dental Mavericks, a charity that works overseas to bring dental care to those in need. The charity agreed to provide food and cover accommodation costs, and the duo funded the rest of the trip themselves through events like a bake sale and a raffle.
Patients at the practice have been very generous with donations, and many have taken a real interest in the trip and are looking forward to hearing reports when the duo returns.
During the trip, the pair will travel to Beqaa Valley, where thousands of refugees have gathered after crossing the mountainous border with Syria. Conditions at the camps are very basic, and temperatures are falling, but the pair said that they were well-prepared for the trip and looking forward to making a positive difference.
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