Stamford's Natasha Bray aims to brighten smiles in Tanzania

A dental nurse from Stamford is hoping to spend nearly two weeks in Africa doing volunteer work for an international charity later this year.

Natasha Bray, 33, was recently chosen by Bupa Dental Care in Stamford to undertake a 10 day voluntary placement working alongside Bridge2Aid in Tanzania with a team of volunteers.

She said: “We will be working 10 days and very long hours to help treat patients that have never seen a dentist and some will be in excruciating pain and walked miles to be able to be seen by the volunteer dental team.

“We will be treating hundreds of patients a day in makeshift dental clinics, not like what you experience in your dentist in the UK with all the technical equipment, computers and chair.

“We will also be there to help train local health workers so they can help the people in their community when we are not there.”

Natasha said she needs to raise £1,000 before her placement in November to help pay towards travel and accommodation costs.

“Most of us have suffered from toothache at some point in our lives,” she said. “It can be debilitating, constant, and excruciating. It is something we would immediately look to address by reaching for pain relief or booking an urgent visit to the dentist. But for many people, this is not possible; over 70 per cent of the world’s population does not have access to a
dentist.”

Bridge2Aid, a UK-based charity, fights the causes of poverty in some of the poorest communities in the developing world with the volunteer programmes and training.

"I would be extremely grateful for any donations to help Bridge2Aid to continue the wonderful charity work that they and their volunteers do,” said Natasha. “Please help me to make a difference.”

To make a donation, visit Natasha’s JustGiving page here.