A DENTIST and charity champion is encouraging others to volunteer after a trip to Pakistan which saw him help more than 200 orphans.

Dr Zohaib Khan, from Elton Head Road, went to Kashmir in October to provide dental treatment for orphans and disadvantaged children. He was among a group of fellow dentists as part of the Dental Aid Network (DAN) charity.

The project was carried out in collaboration with Kashmir Orphans Relief Trust (KORT), which provided welfare for orphans following an earthquake in 2005, which claimed the lives of around 90,000 people.

Zohaib, 27 said: “Since getting home I just really want to encourage others to volunteer and help others in whatever way they can.

“We live blessed lives in comparison to so many so when I got in touch with the charities and found out that I could help I jumped at the chance.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to help people I just feel so grateful to have had the opportunity.

“People don’t realise how they can help and be it in small ways or trips. It is really incredible to volunteer.”

Zohaib was one of the nominees at the Pride of St Helens awards for Charity Champion after also volunteering his time in Greece to help others and at home.

The dentist at Arrowe Park Hospital added: “Being from Pakistan myself it was a special trip for me, the team could converse in Urdu so we really built up relationships and truly understood the children.

“We had the fantastic opportunity to also help both blind and hearing impaired children as well which was a rewarding experience, they did not want us to leave.

“I will be making more trips to help people in the future because the charities do a brilliant job.”

The team also got to socialise with their patients including playing football, cricket and table tennis as well as being treated as special guests by the community.

For more information on DAN visit dentalaidnetwork.org