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Bridge Of Life Volunteers Help Haitians With Medical Care, Supplies

By Rick Sallinger

DENVER (CBS4)- It took two tries, but a team from Colorado made it to Haiti to provide dental and medical assistance to people living outside the capital city of Port Au Prince.

It was a display of international benevolence and caring that almost didn't happen.

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(credit: Bridge of Life)

Gas price hikes touched off riots in Haiti's capital in July.

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Volunteers from Colorado and elsewhere were already on the way and had to be turned back.

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"Our volunteers were incredibly disappointed everybody was so passionate about going to serve in Haiti," said Greta Walker with Bridge of Life.

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They were able to try again a few months later. They delivered supplies, care and medical attention for people living outside of the capital Port Au Prince.

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Valerie Zanon of Denver speaking in Haiti said, "The events that happened in July made me more determined to see the project through and i was relieved that it was rescheduled."

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A total of 20 volunteers joined staff members to see 1,900 Haitians. Among those who came from Colorado was Spencer Hodge.

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(credit: Bridge of Life)

He and the rest of the volunteers are employees of Davita, the kidney treatment firm based in Denver.

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"This is one of the few times free medical services come out to them where they live," he said.

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Some of the stations helped residents with vital signs, blood tests, doctor visits and dental care.

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"Health care despite how difficult it may be you have an obligation to provide it to people around the world," said Hodge.

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Those who came from the U.S. were there to give but they also received a lesson about how similar all humans area.

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Bridge of Life serves 28 countries. It was founded by Davita which helps fund the trips in which volunteers also raise money.

LINK: Bridge of Life

CBS4's Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.

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