Story
Introduction
My name is Andy Dennis. I am a Staff Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Harrogate District Hospital. I also work with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).
MSF is a non-political, non-religious medical organisation working in around 70 countries. We care for those suffering through conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and those denied health care due to overwhelming demand or remote locations.
My Missions
1. Displaced Persons camps in the north of Uganda during conflict between the Ugandan government and the Lord's Resistance Army. This rebel group has maimed, tortured, displaced or killed civilians over a 20+ year period.
2. Setting up clinics in South Sudan on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. The population of this region were terrorised by the Lord's Resistance Army, and it remains a highly unstable region.
3. Running the nutrition centre at Leer Hospital in Unity State, South Sudan. This was an extraordinary project that saved the lives of many vulnerable, severely malnourished children. It remains my most satisfying time with Doctors Without Borders.
4. Nursing in MSF's Kailahun Ebola Management Centre in the most emotionally challenging month of my life. My friend and colleague Dr Anna Simon and I have since documented this experience in a book called Ebola – Behind the Mask.
Fundraising
I have an amazing group of highly motivated friends who have run numerous events and carried out personal fundraisers towards the overall goal. In addition, I have completed several physical challenges:
In 2011, I walked 1500 miles from Amsterdam to Barcelona over 3.5 months,
May - August 2016, Tracey and I cycled 4000 miles from San Francisco to New York. We conquered mountains, deserts, winds and our own limits as we crossed the US.
August 2022, Tracey and I completed a 2000-mile cycle ride from Amsterdam to Gibraltar. This project was called ‘Ride to the Rock’.
We fund all aspects of our projects ourselves, and ALL the money donated goes to MSF.
Contact
If you wish to know more, have a look at my website:
www.andy4msf.com
and Tracey’s site at: www.thecyclingnurse.co.uk
Please email me on andy4msf@pm.me or call 07427359111