Welcome to The Borrow Foundation

The Foundation seeks to promote the improvement of oral health, primarily in children.

Despite being largely preventable, oral disease remains a global problem and is a significant burden in virtually all countries. It is the most prevalent noncommunicable disease worldwide, affecting an estimated 3.5 billion people, almost half the world's population. 

Oral health is fundamental to overall health, wellbeing and quality of life. Poor oral health can adversely impact on essential human functions such as eating, speaking, sleeping, smiling and socialising; it can have serious consequences for children affecting school attendance and performance, causing low self-esteem and far-reaching effects into adulthood. As with other chronic diseases, oral disease exhibits a substantial social gradient, creating unacceptable inequities. 

Through the work we support, The Borrow Foundation is helping to address this major public health challenge.

The Borrow Foundation is a UK based charity, registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales: Charity No. 1060308

 Professor Christina Stecksén-Blicks

 It is with deep sadness that we learned of the death of Professor Christina Stecksén-Blicks, Professor Emeritus, Department of Odontology, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, who passed away unexpectedly on Monday 5th February.

 Christina had a distinguished career as a paediatric dentist and made a lasting contribution in the field of oral health. She was passionate about research, particularly around the prevention of dental disease.

Christina’s engagement with the Foundation began in 2005, when she was a key member of a research team that received a grant from the charity to undertake clinical trials on fluoridated and probiotic milk in Sweden. In 2013 she was appointed as a trustee. This coincided with a decision to extend the scope of the activities we support and the expertise, knowledge and experience Christina brought to the Board proved to be invaluable in this transition, and towards the development of the charity’s work as a whole.

 We will always be grateful for the huge contribution made by Christina over the past 10 years. She will also be fondly remembered for the warmth of her friendship, and the kindness, consideration and respect that she showed to all those who had the privilege and pleasure of working with her. She will be sorely missed.