Thank you for visiting my story. As many of you know, our youngest son Harry (who is now 9) was born with a cleft lip and palate. Three babies are born with a cleft lip and/or palate every day in the UK, and they face a 20-year treatment pathway which can continue well into adulthood. 

Harry's cleft lip and palate was discovered at his 20 week scan. From that moment on we received an enormous amount of specialist support from the Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPA). Within 24 hours of Harry being born they were with us to show us how to feed him, with special squeeze bottles as he was unable to suck for himself. 

At 4 months old Harry had his first operation to repair his lip at the Evelina hospital. When he woke up from the operation it was like meeting a new baby as his face had completely changed, we had to learn to love his new little smile and in a strange way missed his previous smile.

When he was 11 months old he had his second operation to repair part of his palate, for a month after the operation Harry had to eat pureed food.

For the last year Harry has had to wear a removable retainer (that we have had to manually expand twice weekly), to stretch his upper jaw ready for his third (and hopefully final operation). We are currently waiting for a date for this operation, but Harry will have bone taken from his hip and grafted into his alveolar ridge (this the bone above your front top teeth). Never once has Harry complained - and all he is interested in at the moment with regards to this operation is whether he will get crutches to whizz round on!

The Cleft Lip & Palate Association (CLAPA) is here to make sure no one has to go through this alone.Every donation will help CLAPA to continue to provide specialist, targeted services to give people affected by cleft the knowledge and emotional support they need, while their UK-wide community brings together people from all walks of life to share experiences and learn to cope. 

We now feel it is time to give something back and Steve is therefore going to abseil 262ft off of London's tallest sculpture the London Orbit. We thank you for any support you can give however big or small. 

Thanks

Steve and Julie