Every Smile has a Story...

Many moons ago, the bride Stavroulla, was born with a bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate back in the early 90's. The first of her generation in her Greek Cypriot family, to parents who were not very familiar with the condition until she came along.

Introducing CLAPA to a family who needed help at a very worrying time with their first born. The charity helped her parents through providing special baby bottles to feed a child without a palate and giving positive advice. To providing them with a shoulder to lean on during the many hours of waiting whilst their child went into surgeries year in, year out.

This also created a community for Stavroulla from her early years and to return to in her later years, as an active volunteer. She even met one of her bridesmaids through the wonderful charity; who is now a very close friend. The importance of meeting someone who has gone through a similar experience to you, is invaluable. Which is merely one of the many reasons why CLAPA is an integral small charity to children and adults born with a Cleft.

In the UK alone, three babies are born with a Cleft Lip and/or Palate every day, and they face a 20+ year treatment pathway, which can continue well into adulthood. The Cleft Lip & Palate Association (CLAPA) is here to make sure no one has to go through this alone. They are a non-government funded charity and provide amazing service to those affected all year around through their fundraising funds.

July is Cleft and Craniofacial awareness month and having gone through many operations and other obsticles which the condition brings, Stavroulla is fundraising for this charity which she holds close to her heart, alongside her future husband Matthew.

Please donate whatever you can.

Thank you for reading!

Lots of love,

Stavroulla & Matthew.