Bridge2Aid needs money - urgently
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- Published: Monday, 13 January 2014 07:31
- Written by News Editor
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The dental charity Bridge2Aid needs to raise at least £50,000 before the end of March 2014 to ensure the charity can continue its vital work. It has been the victim of a sophisticated financial fraud in Tanzania, orchestrated by an organised crime ring. It is also facing a large (70%), drop in funds from its main corporate sponsor.
To donate go to the website: http://www.bridge2aid.org
Bridge2Aid has issued the following statement:
Due to circumstances beyond our control, we need to raise at least £50,000 before the end of March 2014 to ensure the charity can continue its vital work. There are two reasons for our urgent appeal:
Firstly, we were recently the victim of a sophisticated financial fraud in Tanzania, orchestrated by an organised crime ring. Neither the police investigation nor our own review has shown any link with the Bridge2Aid team. High quality counterfeit cheques were used the day after a grant payment was received to extract a large sum of money illegally. We have taken swift action to tighten procedures and continue to pursue the funds taken, plus we have switched accounts to a new international bank.
Secondly, we’re facing a sudden, and large (70%), drop in funds from our main corporate sponsor, who dramatically announced during the second half of 2013 that they would be slashing Bridge2Aid’s final payment of a three-year grant due to a large fall in their own profits. They have done this with all the projects they fund.
Right now there is a very real threat to our work - but there are still millions of people suffering daily agony in East Africa who need our help. We have plans in place, a committed and gifted team and hundreds of volunteers ready to deliver vital pain relief and training that would result in access to emergency dentistry for more than 3 million people over the next 3 years. We need to raise at least £50,000 before the end of March 2014 but cannot do this without your help. Our need is urgent.
We have a dental community of 50,000 in the UK. If just 1,000 people are able to make a donation of £40, plus gift aid, we will reach our target.
Forgive the direct nature of this appeal but we need your help, and we need it now. Without additional funding Bridge2Aid will be unable to continue its work in East Africa or anywhere else. The urgency of this appeal cannot be overstated. We face this huge endeavour with the courage of our convictions and the confidence that our many friends will gather around us and offer their time, talents and funds.
Thank you for your fantastic support to date and please continue to help us with our work.
Kind regards,
Mark Topley CEO
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