A Blackburn medical student is heading out to Turkey to help with the earthquake relief efforts.
Adam Ismail, 24, will be joining volunteers from the UK and hand delivering aid to people on the ground and assisting relief teams.
The magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 quakes struck nine hours apart in south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6.
At least 33,185 people were killed, with the death toll expected to rise considerably as search teams find more bodies, and towns and cities inhabited by millions reduced to fragments of concrete and twisted metal.
Adam will be flying out on February 28, landing into Gaziantep, Turkey and then going on to support teams on the ground and helping them in their efforts to reach the most affected areas.
Adam received the Mackenzie Scholarship to study a five-year Bachelor Medicine Bachelor Surgery (MBBS) degree at UCLan in 2020. He had earlier graduated from the University of Bradford with a degree in biomedical science.
The former Pleckgate High School student said: “I’m going to help the people who desperately need it. I thought to myself why sit around when I can make an active difference and help in any way that I can.
“As soon as my grandad told me about himself going I wanted to help him and help the people in Turkey and Syria just as I’ve done with him on these relief trips before.
“As a medical student at UCLan I feel like it will be an eye opening experience for myself and I will reflect on my experience to benefit me in my future practice."
Adam will be joining a team of volunteers who are paying their own expenses and will distribute funds collected in the UK.
Adam had launched an appeal of his own to raise £20,000 to distribute in the affected areas.
He added: “There are many young children who have lost their parents and during these harsh winter months are without adequate food, shelter and clothing to survive the aftermath of this catastrophic disaster.
“Every donation counts and even the smallest amount will make a huge difference so please give as much as you can.
“If you are unable to support financially then please at least spare a few seconds to share this appeal with your trusted contacts as every donation will go a long way.”
You can support Adam’s appeal here
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