I was 18 months old when a candle caught on to my pyjamas and changed my life forever. I had full-thickness scarring to 35% of my tiny body and my parents were told to prepare for the worst. After 20 years of operations to release scarring on my whole body I decided to stop having surgery despite still having lots of restrictive scars. As I suffer from keloid scars, each surgery to fix a scar led to more scars!

I am now a GP, wife and mum and I see the effects of scarring in my work and in my own day to day life. In the last 5 years I have become a mum to two beautiful little boys but the pregnancies and breastfeeding reminded me that my scars will always affect me as I struggled with my growing belly and then struggled to breastfeed due to scars.

My scars are a part of me and I wouldn't be me without them. I am proud of my scars and and journey I have been through but I would not wish it on anyone. If I could live scar free I would grab the opportunity with both hands - help us make this a reality!

The Scar Free Foundation is the only medical research charity revolutionising the way scarring is prevented & treated – for everyone. We’ve enabled +£50 million in pioneering research into healing wounds caused by burns, surgery, conflict, trauma & illness.

Scarring can affect how you grow, smile, eat, feel about yourself – but your donations support breakthroughs in regenerative medicine, surgical training & recovery to support physical & emotional healing.

One day, scarring may change your life. Please support our research today.