CHILDREN in an African orphanage will next year receive the benefit of expert treatment from two members of staff from a Peebles dental practice.

Sara Gilmer decided she wanted to help out after making a trip with a Round Table group to the Nyumbani Orphanage at Nairobi in Kenya.

And the 32-year-old mother of two from Cardrona is being joined in the African venture next February by her colleague Carolina Landivar, 38, from the Rosalind Kerr Dental Surgery in Cavalry Park, Peebles.

“Some of the children out there are HIV positive and I noticed they hadn’t had much in the way of dental treatment so I decided I’d like to go back to help them,” said Sara.

“I just needed to find someone to go with me and Carolina agreed to come along.

“There will be accommodation for us in the orphanage and most of the children we treat will be from there but we also hope to look at some children from the nearest village.” The pair are hoping to raise some money to help with the costs of the trip - but more importantly they are looking for donations of all kinds of dental paraphernalia. Items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, gloves, masks, syringes, needles and mirrors would help Sara and Carolina in their mission. They can be handed in at the dental practice.

“All these items will be gratefully received and we would also like to take other things such as clothes, shoes, soap sets and anything else people feel they can donate,” said Sara.

“All our friends and family are giving us great support and we are looking forward to going out there next year for this worthwhile cause.

“We are doing some fundraising as well to help us with the costs of the trip but if we can’t raise all that is needed we will pay for it out of our own pockets.”