Hello all!

Thank you so much for generously supporting my London Marathon 2021 run and for kindly donating to the wonderful charity that is CLAPA in the process.

As most of you know, Ads and I had a beautiful baby boy in January of this year - little Rex. He was diagnosed with a cleft lip and palate in utero (at 12 weeks of gestation) and from the moment of diagnosis we leaned heavily on CLAPA for information, support and guidance. Through their website, zoom support groups and parent mentors we have been able to learn about Rex's condition and approach our cleft journey with confidence and understanding.

Around 1 in 700 babies are born globally with a cleft which means over 1,200 babies born with this condition in the UK annually. Through knowledge-sharing, community network creation and raising awareness, CLAPA provides invaluable support for families affected by cleft. Like many charities, CLAPA's fundraising efforts have been hugely effected by the pandemic. It would be brilliant if our fundraising could help them to sustain their level of support for the cleft community and continue their efforts in making families' cleft journeys that bit easier. 

Rex is doing amazingly well. He has a wonderful team at Great Ormond Street Hospital taking care of his lovely face and he really is the sweetest, smiliest chap. He had his lip repair in May and we anticipate his palate being repaired in October of this year. He approached his recovery from the first operation with incredible courage and good humour. I will be motivated by his strength and his smile as I wend my way around 26 miles of London's streets on October 3rd and will also be hugely encouraged by your fantastic donations - thank you, thank you, thank you!