I was born with a clef lip and clef palate and in the first few years of my life I underwent a number of operations to close the lip and palate.  I had the support from family and close friends, from nursing the after effects of the operations through various therapies (including speech) to coping with additional pains of growing through adolescence with (relatively speaking) mild facial disfigurement.  Looking back, in short, I had it good; and I’ve managed to overcome some difficult times to become a successful professional.

People in developing countries that are born with combinations of (and varying degrees of) clef lip and clef palate are not as fortunate as me and need the support SmileTrain gives.

I want to help those people by contributing to the work SmileTrain does. 

So, what am I doing to gain your donation or sponsorship?

Well, I am currently training to do the Hadrian’s Wall walk this summer (currently planning for June 2010) which for someone who has become a couch/desk potato over the last 10 years is no easy undertaking.  The first walk I did (about six months ago) was 2.5 miles which I found very tiring; at the time of writing this (Feb 2010) I’m doing between 3 and 4 walks per week walking a mix of 6.5, 9.5, and 12 mile walks which on average takes about 8 hours of my time per week; you can follow my training on DailyMile http://www.dailymile.com/people/SteveDangerfield.  I am also having to lose weight too, in the hope that this helps with training and doing the Hadrian's Wall walk.

Hadrian’s Wall walk is 85 miles in length which I am planning to complete in 6 days; but that’s not just 85 miles on the flat there’s a lot of hills too especially days 5 and 6 where we pass over the end of the Pennines.

So, please donate what you can to this worthy cause.  Currently,

£15 can cover sutures for one surgery

£30 can provide medications for one surgery

£80 can cover half the cost of one surgery

£160 can provide cleft surgery for one child

£320 can provide cleft surgery for two children

£640 can provide cleft surgery for four children

My target is to raise £1400 by end of 2010; this would give 10 kids a vastly increased chance of living a normal life.

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!

So please dig deep and donate now.