Guidepost dentist's appointment with 1000-mile journey
DENTIST Richard Fretwell is asking people to open their purses and wallets as wide as they can to help him to raise £10,000 for the Tiny Lives charity.
Richard, who runs the Guidepost Dental Practice between Ashington and Morpeth in Northumberland with his dentist wife Josie, is planning to cycle around 1000 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats, starting on September 7. He will be make the journey with four friends from Yorkshire who are raising money for their chosen charities.
“I have chosen Tiny Lives because two couples we know tragically both lost premature babies earlier this year,” said Richard. “The Neonatal Service, which is based at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary, was a fantastic source of support to them at a terrible time. They said that the service, which looks after around 600 premature or seriously ill newborn babies every year, does a difficult job incredibly well and the love, care and kindness they were shown helped them so much.
“ I wanted to do what I could to raise funds for such a great cause in memory of our friends’ babies, Millie Rose and Oscar.”
Richard and Josie have two children of their own, and Guidepost Dental Practice has a growing reputation as a family-focused practice.
Both dentists and the team spend a lot of time with their younger patients, organising competitions and special events to ensure that children enjoy their visits and are encouraged to take care of their teeth for life.
Richard, 36, has already cycled more than 9000 miles around the North East during training, and his family, including children, Seb, aged eight, and six-year-old Claudia, as well as many patients at Guidepost Dental Practice, are supporting him as he prepares for his first distance ride.
The team, affectionately christened “All the Gear and No Idea”, will be accompanied by a bus carrying spares and providing sleeping accommodation.
“We will need to cover around 90 miles a day for 12 to 14 days to complete the trip, so I suspect I will be standing up to treat my patients rather than sitting for quite a while when I return,” Richard said.
He added: “Just to add to the discomfort, I have also planned a sponsored leg wax before I go!
“Any donations would be very gratefully received at www.justgiving.com/Richard-Fretwell.
