Hello. My name is Mark Creeger and today is my 55th birthday. This week also marks International Clubfoot day (3rd June) and the birthday of Dr Ponsetti.

My wife and I recently became grandparents to a beautiful baby boy who was born with two grade six (the most severe version of) clubfeet. His parents (our son and daughter-in-law) having been well advised during the pregnancy that this was the case were in some ways prepared for the procedures that would follow and so to some extent were we. They were lucky enough to be supported by a fabulous NHS (National Health Service) team who ably and empathetically led them through the Ponsetti procedures. Nearly 7 months on he is responding extremely well and we're very thankful and grateful for this being the position which our family was able to find itself in. However, we appreciate that it's not the same for everybody and certainly not the same for everybody in all countries.

I'd like to take advantage of the fact that the number 55 does look a bit like two clubfoot legs, regardless of whether you are looking at the fives from the top or the bottom.

My aim is to dedicate this year to raising funds for the hard work which clubfoot charities are doing across the world, to alleviate wherever possible this condition, giving those people born with it a fighting chance at everything life has to offer, without the sometimes devastating challenges that Clubfoot (also known as Talipes) and similar problems present.

My goal across the coming 365 days is to constantly raise the bar by starting at £55 and adding a zero to my target each time we hit a milestone, with the intention to 10x my achievements in each follow-up stage. I respect the fact that this will add significant pressure and that I may not be able to use the same tactics later on as I will be able to employ at the beginning.

My father (who passed away over 10 years ago and has missed out on meeting his great-grandson) was involved in fundraising for most of his professional career. My mother and sisters are also involved in the charity and fundraising world. I have somewhat lagged behind in this arena, so it's about time that I took up the family business for a little while.

So, of course, my initial ask is for you to donate using the page in the link provided and to spread this message across as many of your networks and contacts as possible, hoping that they too will donate.

But I am also hoping that you will raise your hand to help in later stages with setting up or supporting a local event, or maybe providing some introductions to contacts who might be able to help with some of the ideas I have for fundraising at higher levels, when we have added a few zeros to our target.

The goal is to be supporting a range of clubfoot charities and initiatives across the world and try to make a significant difference to the current position. 1 in 700-1000 children worldwide are born with clubfoot or similar condition but 85% are missing out on taking advantage of the life-changing Ponsetti method. So roughly speaking, of these 180-200,000 new babies each year, only 1 in 5 around the world are currently able to benefit. The life and educational challenges this brings are enormous and devastating to them and their families.

Whether you donate, sign-up or just pass this message on to others who might do one or the other or both, thank you so much for being involved, for contributing however you can, to our goals. It will be appreciated by those that it benefits and their families, for the rest of their lives.

Please sign up at 55andcounting55@gmail.com