Nearly a hundred years ago my Uncle Gordon was born with a severe cleft lip and palate . My mother recalled my grandmother feeding him all his milk from a teaspoon for his first year as he was unable to suck. Cleft palate surgery then was rudimentary and it left his face  severely scarred and with a voice which was so nasal and distorted that only his close relatives could easily understand him. For his whole adult life Uncle Gordon's accident of birth marked him out as separate and different and an object of pity, if not downright fear. I truly appreciate therefore the difference that Smiletrain makes to the appearance and life prospects of cleft palate children in the third world. It is a relatively small charity but the work it does is immediately visible and life affirming. I cannot think of a more motivating reason to keep my feet plodding on for 26 miles than to raise money for Smile Train. Please help me put a smile on many more faces.

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