We see people by looking at their face. You are what you look at in the mirror. But if a child has a facial deformity, sometimes society cannot get past the disfigurement and fails to see the person! 

Over 200,000 children are born each year with a severe Cleft Lip and Palette facial deformity. All too often in certain parts of the world, children do not get the medical treatment they deserve, leaving them unable to eat, speak or smile. Even worse, they are afraid and ashamed to go to school and are rejected by the society that should be supporting and protecting them. This is just wrong. 

And yet in the UK this condition is entirely treatable through reconstructive surgery. This is where Operation Smile come in. Their team of brilliant volunteer surgeons and other medical professionals operating in over 60 countries provide reconstructive surgery of the highest standard and free of charge to children and young adults. The all important initial surgery can take as little as 45 minutes and costs no more than £150 to give a child their dignity and a smile and to truly change their life forever. 

I was born with a Cleft Lip and Palette which also affects my hearing. But I had access to the very best medical skills the NHS could provide over a number of years and the unwavering support of my family throughout. Today I am fit and well and have a wonderful family of my own with a lifetime of great experiences and memories. I consider myself very lucky. At the same time however, I think it is every childs basic right at birth to be given the same opportunity as every other child in their society regardless of whether they have a deformity or not. Luck should not come into it. 

I promise that if you sponsor my endeavours to complete 12  physical challenges in 12 months I will not satisfy myself with simply completing each event, but will compete to the very best of my ability on each occasion and finish, at least, in the top 20% of entrants.

I promise to respect your generosity by continuing to train hard all year long, regardless of the weather and other distractions and to finish every challenge having given everything my old legs have got.

The challenges I have planned so far are as follows:

January: "Iceman" (33k off road duathlon)

February:  "Tuffman" (25k of road duathlon)

March: Dorney Lake Half Marathon (13 mile run)

April: Brighton Marathon (26.2 miles)

May: Cycle Challenge (Surrey to Brussels)

June: South Downs Epic Mountain Bike race (29 miles)

July: Para Challenge (10 mile run with 35lb Bergen pack)

Sept: Man v Mountain (20 miles from sea level & over Snowdon)

Oct 19th: Grim Duathlon (5k run, 20k mountainbike, 5k run) 

Nov: Hellfire corner Sportive: (80 mile road cycle)

Nov: Wildman Duathlon (10k run, 18k mountainbike, 5k run)

Dec: Portsmouth coastal Marathon (26.2 miles)

Please also be assured that the entrance fee for these challenges is being paid for out of my own pocket, so any donation you make will all go directly to Operation Smile.

Think about it! For every £150 we can give a child a smile and their dignity. That has to be worth it!