Kaye Knowles

My career has included many years as a professional violinist (BBC Philharmonic, Bridge String Quartet) and as a violin then classroom teacher. I now teach Dalcroze Eurhythmics at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama on their String & Brass Training Programme and for Dalcroze UK on the Teacher Training programmes as well as on courses all over the world.

I was born with a cleft lip and palate and first encountered CLEFT runners in 2014 at the Royal Parks Half Marathon. That year I ran for Great Ormond Street Hospital charity, which is where I received my treatment. This included over a dozen operations. In the following year, 2015,  I decided to raise money for CLEFT. I then volunteered to run the Uganda Marathon in 2016 and raised over £2,000 for the charity.

I am keenly aware of how privileged I am to have had my cleft repaired by the very best surgeons and how this has allowed me to lead a normal life! My experience in Uganda was a sharp reminder of what can happen when superstition and lack of education are the norm. I have been moved at how cleft charities have literally given people the opportunity to have a life.