At 3am on Friday morning, more than 90 hardy souls from across the dental industry gathered in the dark, clutching rucksacks stuffed with waterproofs, snacks, and optimism. The forecast for Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) was… let’s just say “unfavourable.” Driving rain, 60mph gusts, zero visibility. But still, everyone turned up – eager, excited, and determined to make it count.

We waved them off into the night.

By dawn, things were tough. Really tough. Rain lashed sideways, waterproofs gave up the fight, and the wind quite literally knocked people over. And yet, step by step, they pressed on – driven not by a summit selfie, but by the reason they were there: to support Bridge2Aid.

One of the climbers, Gemma Barker from Barker PR, summed it up perfectly:

“Yesterday was TOUGH… Waterproofs weren’t enough to shield us from the relentless rain, and more than one person was knocked over by 60mph gusts. The summit was out of reach, and the sunrise we had all hoped for never came… But that was the point of this trek: showing up for each other, putting collective strength ahead of individual goals, and remembering why we were there.”

In the end, our brilliant guides from SkyBlue made the only safe call – to turn the group back before the summit. And while they didn’t get to the very top, making it three-quarters of the way up in those conditions is nothing short of heroic. Every single person should be incredibly proud of themselves.

It wasn’t just a physical feat – it was an act of commitment. Together, this incredible group raised almost £11,000 for Bridge2Aid. Money that will go straight into our work in East Africa, where there are only 600 dentists serving a population of 70 million. Next week our team will be training and mentoring dental therapists in rural Tanzania – where only 0.5% of children have ever seen a dentist, and where 80% of the population live far from urban centres. Thanks to this climb, thousands more people will soon have access to safe, sustainable dental care.

This event showed me what can be achieved when our profession comes together. It isn’t about the summit or the sunrise. It’s about showing up, step after step, and making steady progress – just as Bridge2Aid does every single day.

And I can’t really express how grateful I am. To everyone who walked. To everyone who donated. We couldn’t do one without the other. A special thank you goes to Barker PR, who worked tirelessly to bring this event together. Without their passion, organisation and energy, this climb wouldn’t have happened.

Why this matters so much

Bridge2Aid has been supported by the dental industry for more than 20 years. Together we’ve trained hundreds of dental professionals, reached countless communities, and helped reduce the daily pain and suffering caused by untreated dental disease. The partnership we’ve shared with this industry has achieved so much already – and long may it continue.

The Snowdon trek was a reminder that our strength lies in working side by side. When we show up for one another, when we combine our skills, our voices and our energy, the results are extraordinary.

So – how can you get involved?

• It’s not too late to sponsor the team! 
• 🏃 Join our Virtual 5K – On 11th October we’re running (or walking, or skipping) a 5K supported by the BDIA. Just £10 to enter, no fundraising required, and you’ll be entered into a prize draw. Share the QR code with friends and family – the more the merrier.
• ⛰ Join us next year – I have no doubt this industry challenge will return. Tell us what kind of adventure you’d like to see next – ideas very welcome!
• 🌍 Volunteer with us – If you’d like to be on the ground, you can join one of our programmes and help directly.
• ✈️ Follow our Tanzania team – A group of incredible volunteers left today. Over the next two weeks we’ll be sharing their stories and photos – and the impact of their donated time.
• 🤝 Talk to us about partnerships – If you’re planning a health outreach programme, come and speak to us. We are always open to new collaborations and we’d love to explore how we can work together to make an even bigger impact.

To everyone who braved the mountain, donated, or cheered from the sidelines – thank you. You’ve proved again the power of this community when it pulls together for a cause that matters.

We may have been blown off Snowdon, but nothing’s blowing us off course.