Up & Down A Mountain- A Hobbit’s Tale

“The Tooth And Nothing But The Tooth”

By Chris “Dr Smile Maker” Branfield

Up & Down A Mountain- A Hobbit’s Tale

Wow, what a 2 weeks that was.  Phew!!  I travelled to Morocco with my son, Edward to meet up with fellow Dental Mavericks (Dental Mavericks is a charity that I am a founder member and trustee of).  This was my 7th time going over to get children out of pain and the 2nd time in Asni working with The Eve Branson Foundation. 

As usual there was some bureaucratic and political nonsense to overcome so we lost half a day.  BUT, we cracked on and saw loads of kids.  We saw about 340 children, actively treated 170 to get out of pain.  That’s somewhere in the region of 400 teeth taken out.

Edward looking after a little one

After Teeth Out - Pain Free Dentistry

Then A Mountain To Climb

As a fund raiser we had decided to do a sponsored Mountain climb, as you do.
This turned out to be the hardest thing I have ever done.  We set off in the 40 degrees heat from Imil on a 6 hours steady climb to the Refuge (basecamp at 3000m)

Before The Crack Of Dawn

We went to bed in a mixed dormitory of bunk beds with no space in between so there were approximately 40 people.  Oh, we didn’t sleep. It was awful.  Anyway, up before daylight, head-torch on and crampons on. Yes crampons on!!  There was quite a lot of snow.  It was a long hard slog and after a time the snow disappeared.  I could feel the altitude effects of nausea and headache.

Always Worse Coming Down

I was rubbish coming down.  There was a lot of loose scree and I kept losing my feet.  I landed right on a rock, OUCH!  When we got to the snow again it was softer and slippy, we ended up coming down on our bottoms for good bit as it was safer.  After up and down the summit it was a steady trek down to Imil, it felt never ending.  A 14 hour day all together. Well, the next few days were interesting trying to walk.  Edward was fine as he has youth on his side.

All safe and sound in the end.  I went straight to a 3 day dental implant conference in Glasgow, I was so stiff!! That’s dedication for you. What an anorak!

I said there was quite a bit of snow

Edward and I at the top

Thank You, You’re Great

A massive thank you to all who have sponsored us
http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/castleparkdentalcare  if would like to sponsor us or pop in for cuppa.

Until next time.

Take care and be good.