Join David's Journey to Help Sierra Leone with Mercy Ships

Hey Folks,

I, David Richards, am raising funds for a trip to Sierra Leone between February and March to work as an Operating Room Nurse facilitating free surgeries for people in need there. I will volunteer on a hospital ship called Global Mercy run by a charity called Mercy Ships. Charity Navigator rates Mercy Ships as 4 out of 4 stars and grades it 98%.

Here's a short video explaining what they do better than I can.

Mercy Ships Response to Global Surgical Need

Sierra Leone is regularly ranked in the 10 poorest countries in the world. People there frequently suffer from what in the developed world would be considered highly treatable conditions, but for them are often debilitating and lifelong. Conditions like maxillofacial tumors, cleft palates, and burn contractures.

A short list of my qualifications are: 2.5 years experience full-time as an OR Circulating Nurse, 1 year as an ICU nurse, 3 years as a paramedic, and 5 years as a military medic. I have served and lived a total of 18 months in other regions overseas before.

My expenses will include travel to and from Sierra Leone, mandatory vaccinations and a physical, travel gear for my month-long stay on the ship, and funds to pay the minimal bills like rent and health insurance I have to maintain while I am away from my normal job.

If you would like to help, I would be deeply grateful. If you want to know more, you can call, text, or email me. If you know others who would like to contribute, please spread the word. I would also be grateful for your prayers. I would take nothing for granted.

While I work there, I will share with my patients that I represent a generous, caring community from my home who, though they could not come with me, are doing a great deal to help me do the work I'm doing and are invested in the well-being of the people in Sierra Leone.

To learn more about the Mercy Ships charity itself check out their website: https://www.mercyships.org/our-mission/

Or to see a National Geographic documentary series for a deeper view watch for free online at: The Surgery Ship

Thank you in advance,

David Richards, RN, NRP