Sunderland Dentist and the Morocco Dental Charity Adventure

Hi folks,

Michael, the boss at Olivers Dental Studio here..
I would just like to say a few words about an exciting charity trip I have become involved in starting Friday 24th of September. I was asked by Tony Gedge, a good friend of mine if I would help him set up a brand new dental charity aimed at providing dental care to remote parts of the world. His initial project was to assist the Berber Tribe of Northern Morocco who are suffering from a desperate lack of healthcare.

I will be one of a group of dentists from across the country who will be travelling to the mountainous regions of this beautiful country on a mission funded fully by the dentists themselves.
The aim of the trip is to set up a dental facility for the Berber people and provide dental care whilst we are with them. We understand that it is only a start ,but the impetus the visit will bring will hopefully lead to a permanent centre of care for these people. Over the week we will be distributing medical provisions and using our professional skills to provide as much care as possible to the tribe.

The team are hoping to raise as much money as possible to provide funding for as much medical provision and materials as we can get. We would be most grateful of any help in this respect, big or small, which will go 100% to help the Berber Tribe in a situation were they currently have nothing like this.

It is possible to help us in two main ways...

1. A small donation directly to our charitable fund at http://www.berbertribe2010.org/

2. With the tremendous generosity of Sunderland AFC I have put together a wonderful day out for a prize that money cant buy...

For the Aston Villa home game   23rd October 2010
Lunch for two pre match with myself and Sunderland 1973 Cup winning legend Ritchie Pitt at Amores Restaurant in Sunderland
Two VIP Directors Box seats
Signed and framed Sunderland shirt signed by the current first team
Photograph with one of the players

A prize worth several hundred pounds for a day to remember..
IF you would like to BID for this  fantastic prize please ring us at Olivers Dental Studio  0191 5438642  or
0191 5282340           http://www.oliverdental.com/

We will be drawing the winner on October 10th .

Thank you for your generosity, I will personally guarantee your donations go directly to the Tribes people.

Michael Oliver
oliverdental.com

Sunderland dentist Michael Oliver coast to coast challenge 2010

The date ...... Friday September 10th 2010
The place ....  Whitehaven , Cumbria to Sunderland , Tyne and Wear.
The task .....  150 miles of cycling

Olivers Dental Studio owner Michael Oliver foolishly accepted the challenge of his friend Steve from London and Harry Hall of Reds Hair and Beauty Sunderland to cross the country on his mountain bike at the ripe old age of 50yrs. Ego stepped in as he accepted the challenge to ride with these two experienced cyclists and of course the old fella decided to do it without training. Mistake number one...

Starting at the official kick off point at Whitehaven having loaded up with a chicken bhuna in the town the night before could be considered as mistake number two. Not the tactics of Lance Armstrong I'm sure. Whitehaven was like the M25 at the start but the c2c course soon thinned the field as we climbed up towards the Lake District. Destination Glennridding on Lake Ulswater for day one was manageable ,only just, with a comfy bed in a good old fashioned band b a godsend for the aching bones. Soaked to the skin but a good days cycling. At the back of  Michaels mind was the much hyped second leg from the lakes over Hartside Pass and down to Stanhope ,Weardale .

Michaels quote at the top of the gruelling leg to this Pennine summit " if I had seen a farmer with a shot gun I would have begged him to shoot  me "  Long periods in 21st gear on steep hills tests the metal especially when those who had abandoned their bikes to walk were travelling faster - but "I did not walk". Conned into thinking the pass marked the beginning of the long downhill to Sunderland, Michael was disturbed to find several more shocking ascents on the 69 mile ride to Stanhope.
Some gorgeous scenery but the price was a rear that could not be sat upon.
Day three was the home leg and apart from the torture of an early morning climb out of Stanhope the joy of a downhill journey to Sunderland. c2c fans will be familiar with a lovely old converted railway route all the way to Sunderland. It was a lovely day and after the hard work over three days Michaels home town had never looked better to him particularly the last section around the shrine that is the Stadium of Light.
Tradition has it that you have to dip your wheel in the sea to complete at Sunderland , and so to conclude a great three days .....

Another box ticked for this ageing dentist..

Would he do it again? - no chance
Should you do it ?  You bet, a fantastic experience.
Thanks to best pal, Steve Williamson for his effort in organising and convincing Michael that this was sensible to do
To Steve's wife Joan for her logistics, photography and morale boosting.
To Harry Hall for the laughs and Marshall Hall for making these three old blokes feel fitter than they otherwise thought.