39,000ft over North Africa
I have just spent 11 days getting to being in Tanzania and coming from there. Forsome of it I rode a bike, not a fancy bike, just a bike. Not far off 360km onbroken tracks and road, and over 11,000ft of climbing.
It was a beautiful adventure, selfish and mind-blowing.
After that, I travelled North to Mwanza and into the country to see the work formyself.
It's super hard. It’s rough and exhausting.
What I saw was dedication, kindness, community and humanity. I saw compassion and connection and gratitude and fulfilment. From here, all the work is Bridge2aid with Shaenna and Annie.
The possibilities are endless.
What I hope
I hope this:
That people see and help.
That dentists help dentistry somewhere harder than here.
That we learn to see that it’s possible (just a little bit) to buy less andhelp more!
That we realise that any difference we make is tiny, but it’s worth it, and it is a difference.
That 100 dentists or practices understand that a unity partnership a year with Bridge2Aid could look after millions of people in a worse place than us (and we can all afford that).
What I know
If we don’t stand up, one by one, it will fail.
If we can’t learn to see past ourselves, happiness will always remain elusive.
That it’s right and proper and brilliant.
In the (very long) opening ceremony of the programme on Monday. One of the high-up officials turned to me and spoke in English in front of the crowd gathered. He said (referring to our support of Chicco over the last 3 years or so)
“It’s no right to be a beggar, but to ask for help from a friend is something else”
Let’s make some friends - hit reply, and I’ll show you how.
Here is the professionally filmed video from Day 2 of the bike ride, and here is the link to the Bridge2Aid website for more information about the charity and how you can help.
Blog Post Number - 4438
Colin Campbell, Chris Barrow, and an intrepid group of dentists will be cycling across the plains of Tanzania from Kilimanjaro in early February 2026. If you would like to support the charity, Bridge2Aid, and this extraordinary challenge, please click here.
Thank you for your generosity
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