After completing a 100 mile row in November 2011, which raised valuable funds for the BDA Benevolent Fund, Tony Chivers, MBE, is hoping to inspire everyone to ‘Be-Active for the Ben Fund’.

 

On 13July at 5.50pm, at 92-year-old Tony is set to become the oldest Torchbearer in the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. For 24 years Tony was an active Trustee of the BDA Benevolent Fund, and now as Vice-President he runs on Day 56 of the Relay, part of the Portland to Bournemouth leg of the Flame’s journey to the Olympic Stadium in London.

 

After serving in WWII, Tony went on to be represent Great Britain, England and the British Empire as an athelete, winning bronze in the 3-mile event at the 1950 Empire Games, before starting a long career in dentistry.

 

After being nominated as an Olympic Torchbearer by the Fund, Tony is keen to raise more awareness for them, hoping the people in the Dental World would get behind him and cheer him on and also give a donation towards the Fund’s vital work.

 

It is a real honour to be chosen to carry the Olympic Flame, which has travelled the length and breadth of the Country. Tony is a true people’s champion after putting so much effort into helping the Fund and also many local sporting groups and charities. His triumph provides the ideal launch for the Ben Fund’s ‘Be Active for the Ben Fund’ campaign.  It is hoped that Tony’s achievement will inspire others to organise and take part in activities for the year-long fundraising campaign.

 

Be Active events could range from physical, mental or creative: a cycle challenge, a quiz night or selling home-made cup cakes, for example.  Every event could raise valuable funds to help those dentists in crisis, be it because of accident, long-term illness, bereavement or acute stress.

 

Despite a record-breaking year of applications for help in 2011, the Fund believes numbers will only increase in the current economic climate. Please Be Active in any way you can and help colleagues to making a lasting difference to families in times of crisis.