In November I spent a perspective altering week in Ghana with Operation Smile. I have seen first-hand that this charity is amazing, transforming the lives of 147 Children during that week. 32 of these operations were funded by the donations many of you generously gave in 2015, when you sponsored my walk from Leeds to London. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!

Unfortunately, Operation Smile can’t treat all the hopeful patients that travel for MILES to attend the screening days. Some are too malnourished for safe surgery and some have conditions simply too severe for Operation Smile’s remit, so get turned away.
Charity and Mary are 2 of these children that travelled for days to get to the Operation Smile mission site – daring to hope for help – but sadly had to be turned away.

Charity is 17. Charity has sickle cell disease meaning her red blood cells are abnormal and do not carry oxygen as well as they should.
Charity has been sick since birth, with many symptoms – enlarged liver, huge spleen and the over development of her upper jaw. Unfortunately, the reconstruction she needs cannot be accomplished during a regular Operation Smile mission

Mary is 15 years old. Mary came to the mission accompanied by a neighbour as her parents are deceased and the rest of the family have disowned her. When Mary was 3 months old, she contracted a disease called NOMA - a flesh-eating bacterium. NOMA is incredibly aggressive and within 48 hours this disease had eaten away the flesh around Mary’s mouth and nose.

At the news that they couldn’t be helped (delivered as compassionately as possible) silent tears ran down Charity and Mary’s faces.
At that point, my friend and I decided to do some independent fundraising to try and help these girls. The AMAZING Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah, Medical Director of Operation Smile, promised to operate if we could raise the funds. We need £4,000.

So, if you can spare one more gift this Christmas – I know 2 girls who would appreciate it so much!