Page 9 - link magazine

Swindon dental donation makes an impact in Ukraine
The delivery of another dental provide treatment and medical
caravan to Ukraine by dentist, advice in remote communities
Brendon Ball, from Freshbrook across the Cherkassy region, which
Dental Practice with his wife is the size of Wales, although the
Natasha, made the national news, two caravans can only be used for
alongside the ongoing conflict with part of the year because the roads
Russian backed nationalists in the are impassable for towed vehicles
east of the country. during the winter months.
It was the third delivery of mobile Brendon added: “Our long standing
dental surgeries since Brendon’s contact Dr Ivan Kovelenko worked
first trip in 1999 and to his surprise out that the aid from our charity
Brendon was presented with the Smile Menders is equivalent to
Shevchenko Medal by the Mayor £300,000 and has made it possible
of Cherkassy, a civic award for to examine about 58,000 people and
outstanding contribution to society. treat over 21,000 including 7,000 The Swindon team with the new caravan meeting up with Ukrainians
“I was really chuffed that our children, since 1999, free of charge. and the mobile surgery delivered by Brendon in 2009
assistance to the Cherkassy “When I first went to Ukraine the
area was considered worthy approach was to drill, fill or extract,
of recognition,” said Brendon. often without painkillers. Now the
“Everybody we met was delighted mobile units are both treatment and
that we were still wanting to help oral hygiene advice centres, and
Ukraine; the welcome was even the principles of teaching people
greater than our previous visits to look after their teeth is part of
because the country is under such the Ukraine health service. I feel
great pressure from the war with humbled that the Smile Menders
the Russian backed separatists.” message has had such an impact.”
The dental units are used to www.smilemenders.org
Bringing aid to the Calais jungle

Herbie Trinder, Natasha and Brendan Ball with the 400th edition
of Swindon Link magazine at the museum commemorating the
Battle of Korsun-Shevchenkovskiy

Swindon to Calais Solidarity giving out goods last month
The next aid run from Swindon least for my son, who started the
to Calais to help refugees will day as an anxious nerdy teenager
take place in early November and but became a man who showed Luxury Park Home living for the over fifties
organisers are calling for people to compassion, empathy, problem-
keep up the donations. solving and leadership skills.
Darrell Edwards, of Swindon “Whatever your political view on
to Calais Solidarity, said: “We’re immigration, every person has the
planning to go every two weeks so right to food, warmth and shelter -
in November we’d either be going they are basic human needs.”
on 8 November or 15 November. The Calais Jungle is the nickname
“The stuff that is needed over given to a series of camps in the
there is constantly changing so vicinity of Calais, where migrants
please keep an eye on our Facebook live while they attempt to enter the
page so you can see what donations United Kingdom.
would help the most.” The refugees are a mix of people
The group went out at the end of from Darfur, Afghanistan, Syria,
September and 11 October with one Iraq, Eritrea and other troubled Are you aged 50+ and considering moving home?
more trip planned on 24 October. areas of the world. Want to leave the hustle and bustle of Swindon behind
Volunteer Alison Thompson took To volunteer and see the latest in favour of countryside living?
her teenage son on the Calais aid donation list of what is needed Lillybrook is a long established family run business which
run. She said: “It was an incredible, visit the group’s Facebook site fb/
life-changing experience, not Swindontocalais runs two luxurious Park Home Estates in a rural
setting just outside Lyneham.
Swindon Ocotal Link AGM Please pay us a visit and take a look around, or contact us.
Swindon Ocotal Link celebrates the civic and cultural links between
Swindon and Ocotal in Nicaragua. Lawrence & Philip Burchell - Lillybrook Estate Ltd
Learn more about Swindon’s twin connection at the Park Office, Lyneham, Chippenham,
Annual General Meeting on Thursday 5 November, 7.15pm at Wiltshire SN15 4AA
Lower Shaw Farm, Shaw, Swindon SN5 5PJ tel: 01249 890250 - www.lillybrook.co.uk
swindonlink.com n November 2015 9

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