Refugee Medical Mission in Greece
Donation protected
Hi Family and Friends,
I thought I was going to start the New Year off after some relaxing time at home with my sons during the holidays, then back to work at Marathon Health where we provide wellness and medical services to employees across the country with our onsite health centers. However, I am going to spend the first week of the New Year providing medical care and head to the Greek island of Lesbos, a main through-point for refugees crossing from Turkish shores. A few close friends in the medical community encouraged me to join their mission as the need for medical care and supplies is immense.
As you all know, there is small problem in the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of human beings are fleeing war torn countries, so desperate for safety that they are risking passage on dangerous seas, months in rough camps or living in the woods, bitterly cold nights, and what must feel like endless hunger. These refugees are human beings who are leaving behind their homes, all of their possessions except the clothes on their backs, everything they have known. Politics have no bearing on the composition of the camps on Lesbos, they are full far past capacity. The residents of these camps are human beings, they are families - infants, children, the elderly, pregnant women who are in desperate need of medical care and supplies.
These refugees are cold, scared, hungry, sick, and hurt. They need help. It's that simple.
So, I'm joining several other medical care givers and going to help. You should think about it too. If you're not up for long, cold, wet, muddy days and nights in a refugee camp, that's fine. Just donate instead!
I will be departing on January 2nd and every donated cent will be used to cover the costs of this medical mission - including as many supplies as we can afford to bring. Lesbos is tough (read: expensive) to reach and I'm hoping to help by donating my time and to secure safe lodging for several medical providers and nurses in support of this mission.
Thank you so much for considering supporting this mission - I'm extraordinarily lucky to have people like you in my life and gracious that I can go and help! Happy holidays and may 2016 bring you a great start to the New Year!
Love,
Barb
I thought I was going to start the New Year off after some relaxing time at home with my sons during the holidays, then back to work at Marathon Health where we provide wellness and medical services to employees across the country with our onsite health centers. However, I am going to spend the first week of the New Year providing medical care and head to the Greek island of Lesbos, a main through-point for refugees crossing from Turkish shores. A few close friends in the medical community encouraged me to join their mission as the need for medical care and supplies is immense.
As you all know, there is small problem in the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands of human beings are fleeing war torn countries, so desperate for safety that they are risking passage on dangerous seas, months in rough camps or living in the woods, bitterly cold nights, and what must feel like endless hunger. These refugees are human beings who are leaving behind their homes, all of their possessions except the clothes on their backs, everything they have known. Politics have no bearing on the composition of the camps on Lesbos, they are full far past capacity. The residents of these camps are human beings, they are families - infants, children, the elderly, pregnant women who are in desperate need of medical care and supplies.
These refugees are cold, scared, hungry, sick, and hurt. They need help. It's that simple.
So, I'm joining several other medical care givers and going to help. You should think about it too. If you're not up for long, cold, wet, muddy days and nights in a refugee camp, that's fine. Just donate instead!
I will be departing on January 2nd and every donated cent will be used to cover the costs of this medical mission - including as many supplies as we can afford to bring. Lesbos is tough (read: expensive) to reach and I'm hoping to help by donating my time and to secure safe lodging for several medical providers and nurses in support of this mission.
Thank you so much for considering supporting this mission - I'm extraordinarily lucky to have people like you in my life and gracious that I can go and help! Happy holidays and may 2016 bring you a great start to the New Year!
Love,
Barb
Organizer
Barbara Swan
Organizer
Burlington, VT
