Heidi Robinson has volunteered to help run mobile pain relief clinics in the east African country for three weeks in November.

In order to pay for her travel expenses, Heidi walked from her home in Steep to Queen Elizabeth Country Park and back along the Hangers Way.

Her route was chosen deliberately because of the twinning arrangement in place between Queen Elizabeth Country Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda.

Her march raised nearly £300, which has been added to the £675 she has already collected towards her £3,000 target.

The Ugandan mobile dental clinics were set up a few years ago to provide free pain relief in one of the poorest areas of Uganda.

Heidi said: "This region has been devastated by civil war, poverty and AIDS/HIV resulting in high unemployment, an average life span of only 50 years, and over two million orphans.

"There is very limited free medical care with poor facilities and access to dental care is almost non-existent.

"Universal primary education is free, but resources are scarce.

"These clinics make a real difference." The dental clinics form a small part of the work carried out by Christian Relief Uganda (CRU), an organisation which funds a number of initiatives to combat poverty, including crop growing, animal husbandry projects and educational opportunities.

Heidi has other fundraising ideas up her sleeve to get the £3,000 she needs to go to Africa.

A mufti day was arranged at Steep Primary School, where pupils and staff chipped in £71.36.

She has organised an exhibition of some glass art work she has designed, which will be put on alongside a coffee morning in September.

Anyone who would like to support Heidi and send a donation towards her expenses, or simply find out more, can view her web page at: www.myugandandentalmission.info
Alternatively e-mail her at: heidijrobinson@gmail.com