Dentist receives lifetime achievement award for charitable work

Mitesh BadianiDr Mitesh Badiani from Portland has received a liftetime achievement award for his charitable work both at home and abroad.

A specialist implant dentist from Grapes Dental Practice, Dr Mitesh Badiani was given the award by the Royal Marine charity The C Group at a ceremony held in London for his charity Smilestar.

The charity helps train the ex-Marines in a number of different professions, including dentistry, and helps them find work following their training.

Talking about his award, Dr Mitesh Badiani said it was a ‘complete surprise’ after he was presented with it at the end of last year.

He said to the Dorset Echo: ‘I don’t do it for the recognition, working with these people is awe-inspiring, they have such a positive outlook when you work with them but it’s nice that it has been recognised.’

Dr Mitesh Badiani has been practising in Portland for over 10 years.

He set up Smilestar to help ex-servicemen and women from the Royal Marines back into the world of work.

Dr Mitesh Badiani said: ‘The charity started because I was talking to an ex-Marine over a beer about what Marines do if they are medically discharged, and it just went from there and I set the charity up.

‘We help train them, and then they work at local businesses to see if they are ready to go back into the world of work.

‘We do it all around the United Kingdom, we have helped ex-Marines as far as Scotland.

‘I just thought they gave a lot for the country, it’s hard for them after they are discharged and I wanted to help them.’

He has also extend his services to help disadvantaged people overseas in countries such as Uganda and Kenya and visits the countries every six months to help deliver his services.

Speaking about his work overseas, Dr Mitesh Badiani said: ‘I’m of Kenyan and Asian descent, and I just wanted to give something back to countries like Kenya and Uganda.

‘The level of dentistry care in those countries is very poor, it’s not like the NHS here.

‘Not only is it sparse, but the actual treatment is very poor.’

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