My name is Nathan Abbott, and I was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate in the UK. Since I was born, I have had over 30 procedures, a decade of orthodontics and hundreds of appointments and have 'completed' my cleft journey when I turned 22 (now 25).

At the age of 16 I discovered that there were other cleft children born like me in lower/middle income countries that did not receive the comprehensive care they desperately require. Born in the UK, I had the best care - free of charge. 

I created my fundraising movement 'Freestyle 4 Smile' in 2013 (when I was 16) to use my cleft journey and privilege of being born in the UK to raise awareness of those less fortunate.  -  https://www.facebook.com/Freestyle4smile

Over the decade of raising awareness and fundraising, my story has fortunately been seen by over 20,000,000 people and raised tens of thousands of pounds to fund hundreds of surgeries across the world, but more can always be done.

As I have visited Kenya, I have been incredibly blessed to meet a number of families who have welcomed me into their homes and hospital appointments to learn about the adversity they have experienced and overcome with Smile Train.

- About Smile Train - 

Smile Train is the largest cleft-focused organisation with a model of true sustainability — providing training, funding, and resources to empower local hospitals and their staff to deliver comprehensive surgery, care and ongoing development for cleft individuals. 

- Back to Kenya - 

Whilst with the patients, the doctors informed me of horrific miseducation that led to some of the most saddening stories I have ever heard.

- Parents hiding their children from the local community.

-  Parents with newborn cleft children having their own family encouraging them to kill the baby because it is cursed / bad omen.

- Parents leaving their cleft newborns in the woods to die due to the belief of the baby being cursed. 

----

Take a minute to think about these 3 situations. Cleft is an incredibly simple difference to fix. And the surgery not only enables them to re-integrate into 'normal life' but opens up a whole new world of opportunities. £150 can provide a surgery.

With Christmas on it's way, many will spend time on buying gifts that we may never use after a few months. I ask for one thing, give the gift of a smile this Christmas and support me in empowering families and children in less fortunate areas of the world.

With the current economic crisis, I do not ask for large donations, working in large numbers, donating small amounts can make a life-changing difference. 

Please share this with your loved ones.