Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

We are raising money for CLAPA in memory of our dear son Will, who tragically died in May 2022. CLAPA is the only UK-wide voluntary organisation specifically helping those with, and affected by, cleft lip and palate. Like many charities, they are really struggling following the pandemic and we would like to give something back to them for all the support they have shown to Will and us as a family in the last 19 years.

Our first involvement with CLAPA was when they provided Will with the bottles he was able to feed from as a baby. Our involvement picked up significantly when Will was aged 9 and the CLAPA newsletter dropped through our door. There was a call for young people aged 9-18 to join their Young People's Council, I showed Will, he said he would like to join and so that weekend we found ourselves on a train to London heading for his very first meeting. I will never forget on the train down, I asked Will what he was looking forward to the most and he replied 'I just want to meet other people who are like me'. 

Will spent the next 9 years as a valued member of the Council; he joined lots of team-building residential weekends, participated in many meetings and workshops, supported CLAPA events, spoke to health professionals about his experiences alongside his peers, and shared his story to help others. 

As parents of a child with a cleft, we feel it is vital that CLAPA are able to continue their work. Not only have they provided so much support to Will, they continue to be there for Steve and I. Will would be so pleased that we can continue our involvement with CLAPA in his memory.

We know times are difficult for everyone, but if you can afford to donate, even just the price of a takeaway coffee, we would be so very grateful. Every donation will help CLAPA to continue it's amazing work. 

If you are unable to donate at this time, please just hold Will in your thoughts and perhaps find a few minutes to read his story in full via a public post on Ruth's Facebook page. We would also appreciate you sharing Will's story as it is one which needs to be told.

Thank you, for all your love and support.

With much love from,

Ruth, Steve, Will, Eva and Chloe xxxxx

Update - Mentoring project

The word count is above the limit to post in a separate update, but I would like to share the following very moving and powerful words with you all. Written by one of Will's peers on the council in support of the mentoring project which CLAPA are hoping to set up as a direct result of losing Will (shared with permission):

‘As an adult born with a cleft, I can absolutely testify for the importance of support for young people. I grew up with a friendly CLAPA voice at the end of the phone, a Christmas party to look forward to or a newsletter through the door to keep me updated about what support was out there. Knowing that they were there throughout my childhood and adolescence was such a comfort and I've had some wonderful opportunities because of them. Similarly, watching CLAPA grow over the past 10 years has been incredible; the residential weekends, the young people's council, the peer support networks and the support package for adults are all invaluable and have absolutely changed lives. 

This new mentoring project, aiming to link young people with a cleft with trained mentors for tailored advice, guidance and support with navigating growing up 'different' is so needed, and something which will fill a bit of a gap in the provision for young people. I certainly would have benefitted from it and I know others will too. Of course, spurring the project on even more is the incredibly sad reality that we lost one of our friends, Will Helstrip, recently after a long battle with his mental health, contributed to by bullying and self-doubt as a child. 

Will lit up a room, and he was a great advocate for change, being part of the CLAPA young people's council for several years. As someone who was lucky enough to share this space with Will, I can't imagine a better project than the proposed mentoring programme to be set up in his honour. I hope that young people growing up with and navigating life with a cleft, like Will was and like I was, get to access the support and warmth that CLAPA exude, on a personal level with a trained mentor. I have wondered what Will would think of all these people talking about him now that he's gone, and truly I just remember him, aged 10 and ever-enthusiastic, sat in a CLAPA meeting smiling and saying "great work guys, what's next?". Next, I think, we get bigger and we get better at supporting young people like Will, and this mentoring programme is a fantastic step in that direction.’