Our daughter Charlotte was born on the 26th February 2008 with a cleft lip and palate. She is one of around 650 babies born each year in the UK with the condition. From the moment she was born the Cleft Lip and Palate Team at the Leeds General Infirmary supported us and Charlotte. 

They are an amazing team of extremely talented doctors and specialist nurses who really do change lives. 

Over the years Charlotte has had three procedures starting at 16 weeks old (lip repair), 9 months old (palate repair) and 8 years old (alveolar bone graft). Next year the orthodontic work begins! 

We are eternally grateful to Mr Smyth and his team who started the journey ten years ago and all continue to still be involved with Charlotte to this day. 

The Outlaw is a full distance Ironman triathlon consisting of a two and half mile open water swim followed by a 112 mile solo bike ride and finishes with a full (26.2 mile) marathon. All of this must be completed as one continuous race with strict time limits. It is the hardest single day race in the UK and only 0.01% of the worlds population will ever attempt one!

The training and dedication needed to be able to attempt an Ironman is immense with the 5am alarm a regular fixture seven days a week - regardless of the English weather!

Please make my journey around Nottingham on 29th July worth while by sponsoring me and helping to continue the support the amazing Cleft Lip team provide.