AFRICA — London-based Christian Surgeon, Mr Leo Cheng, received an Honorary Fellowship from Cardiff University on 15th July for over twenty years of voluntary service to the international health charity, Mercy Ships.

Mr Cheng has used his annual leave to serve on board the Anastasis, the Africa Mercy and Global Mercy once or twice a year since 2004. Inspired by his faith and with five degrees to his name, Mr Cheng uses his skills and knowledge to bring life-saving surgical care to women, men and children across sub-Saharan Africa.

For the past 20 years, London-based Christian surgeon Leo Cheng has used his annual leave each year to serve as a volunteer providing life-changing facial surgery on board the medical vessels run by the charity Mercy Ships. And to honour his two decades of service, he recently received an honorary fellowship from Cardiff University in Wales. Dr Cheng says he was extremely humbled to receive this award.

Dr Leo Cheng:

I don’t feel I deserve it, partly because my input to Mercy Ship, when you compare with the long-term crew members, compare with what I call Mother Teresa surgeons, those are the real selfless, godly people.

Dr Cheng says what inspires him to keep coming back is when he sees the remarkable response of his patients when they come out of surgery and see themselves in the mirror for the first time.

Dr Leo Cheng:

The eyes pop out, mouth open, and then they have to check the mirror several times a day, several days a week to make sure what they are seeing in the mirror, they are not dreaming. Because that reaction, that no money can buy. That is why I did dentistry, did medicine, is to bring healing.

And Cheng, along with Mercy Ships volunteers and crew members, remain committed to bringing hope and healing to many more patients in desperate need of help.

About Mercy Ships

Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to deliver free, world-class healthcare services, capacity building, and sustainable development to those with little access in the developing world. Founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships has worked in more than 55 developing countries, providing services valued at more than $1.7 billion and directly benefitting more than 2.8 million people. Our ships are crewed by volunteers from over 60 nations, with an average of over 1,200 volunteers each year. Professionals including surgeons, dentists, nurses, healthcare trainers, teachers, cooks, seamen, engineers, and agriculturalists donate their time and skills. With 16 national offices and an Africa Bureau, Mercy Ships seeks to transform individuals and serve nations one at a time. For more information click on www.mercyships.org.

CONTACT: Diane Rickard, Int’l Media Relations Manager, Mercy Ships, Diane.rickard@mercyships.org

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