Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Training for  a run is hard work as I found out yesterday when I missed a raised paving stone and ended up face-down on the Thames path  near Westminster Bridge. The picture is the result.

It will be worth it if I raise enough money for the charity CLEFT which supports research into the causes and treatment of cleft lip and palate and also helps cleft teams in developing countries.

As a plastic surgeon in the North Thames Cleft Unit based at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the St. Andrew's Centre, Broomfield Hospital, I am very aware of the gaps in our understanding of these conditions but our research is hampered by lack of funds. CLEFT has recently supported research into MRI scanning which we believe will, in the future, help us in our repair of cleft palate. It has also funded research into a condition called submucous cleft palate which has been poorly understood.

I also see at first hand the conditions in which our colleagues in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ghana and Uganda work. We are in a wonderful position to help them and to see the results of our efforts. CLEFT has recently sent operating microscopes to surgeons in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Kandy, Sri Lanka to help them repair cleft palates more effectively. 

As a founder trustee of CLEFT (www.cleft.org.uk), I know that your donation will be put to good use and will directly help children born with a cleft lip or palate.

Thank you.

Brian Sommerlad 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.