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  • our-amazing-fundraisers
  1. Be a fundraiser
  2. Fundraisers' stories

Fundraisers' stories

Over the years, CLEFT has had incredible support from people taking part in fundraising events to raise money for our projects. Here are the stories of some our incredible fundraisers.

Berlin Marathon 2023

Berlin Marathon 2023

Five runners took part in this year's BMW Berlin marathon and we are really proud of how they all did - their commitment to representing CLEFT in the event was wonderful to see. Read more

Published: 6th October, 2023

Updated: 9th October, 2023

Author: Melanie Baldwin

Swim Success

Swim Success

Three participants took part in our challenge to swim 33km in 33 days. Well done Chloe, Tracy and Kellie-Marie (not forgetting Alfred) - you're all amazing! Read more

Published: 13th July, 2023

Author: Melanie Baldwin

Ashley does it again!

Ashley does it again!

Ashley is one of our Student Ambassadors at Birmingham City University. Last year, she climbed Snowden to fundraise for CLEFT. This year, she tackled Scafell Pike and raised the flag for us at the summit. This is Ashley's account of her trip in her own words. Read more

Published: 19th June, 2023

Updated: 7th July, 2023

Author: Melanie Baldwin

Clare and Richard's big swim

Clare and Richard's big swim

Clare and Richard are cleft surgeons. Both have been involved with the charity for a number of years and have just completed a 5km swim in under 1.5 hours in the open water - whilst fundraising for CLEFT of course! What an achievement! Read more

Published: 12th June, 2023

Updated: 20th June, 2023

Author: Melanie Baldwin

In Memory of Michael Sommerlad

In Memory of Michael Sommerlad

A wonderful tribute to Michael Sommerlad was made this autumn. Read more

Published: 16th December, 2022

Updated: 3rd January, 2023

Author: Melanie Baldwin

Nick Climbs Snowdon

Nick Climbs Snowdon

Nick climbed Snowdon on 29th September 2022 to raise funds for CLEFT. He has been fortunate enough to experience and benefit from the excellent surgical cleft care in the UK . Read more

Published: 10th October, 2022

Updated: 26th October, 2022

Author: Sarah Roberts

Great Bristol Half Marathon

Great Bristol Half Marathon

Our fantastic student team from Bristol University took part in the Great Bristol Half Marathon on 25th September 2022. Also participating was a team from the Speech and Language Research Unit and some individual runners, all taking part for the great atmosphere and enjoying the experience of being part of this large event. Read more

Published: 6th October, 2022

Author: Sarah Roberts

Great Success in the Great North Run

Great Success in the Great North Run

Our wonderful group of CLEFT runners took part in the Great North Run on 11th September 2022. A very good turn out with 10 runners raising funds for our charity. Read more

Published: 5th October, 2022

Updated: 6th October, 2022

Author: Sarah Roberts

David and Andrew's Lake Windermere challenge

David and Andrew's Lake Windermere challenge

CLEFT trustee, David Sainsbury, and his brother Andrew, are preparing for a new challenge: to swim 18km across the length of Lake Windermere in the Lake District. We asked David a few questions about this impressive challenge so read here to see what he says... Read more

Published: 22nd June, 2022

Updated: 3rd October, 2022

Author: Melanie Baldwin

Snowden climb for CLEFT

Snowden climb for CLEFT

Students Ashley and Olivia, along with Jamie and Sam, climbed Snowden at the beginning of June and this is their story of their climb. The Birmingham City Uni student fundraising page has been a real success story thanks to the enterprising fundraising efforts of the whole team. Read more

Published: 10th June, 2022

Updated: 3rd October, 2022

Author: Melanie Baldwin

Izzy's candles for CLEFT

Izzy's candles for CLEFT

Izzy is in year 9 at Warminster School and was invited to take part in a project called the FPQ. The objective of the project is to write an essay or create a product on any subject and present it at the end of the school year. Izzy's plan to make and sell candles for CLEFT has been a huge success and over £600 was raised. Read more

Published: 7th March, 2022

Updated: 3rd October, 2022

Author: Melanie Baldwin

Manchester Art Exhibition

Manchester Art Exhibition

Manchester medical student, Lily, held an art exhibition in Manchester just before Christmas. All the proceeds from the sales of the artwork was donated to CLEFT. It was a packed event and raised a great sum of money! Read more

Published: 3rd February, 2022

Author: Melanie Baldwin

Harriet's blindfolded walk for CLEFT

Harriet's blindfolded walk for CLEFT

In Harriet's own words, read here why she chose the unusual fundraising activity of walking a mile blindfolded for CLEFT. Read more

Published: 3rd February, 2022

Author: Melanie Baldwin

CLEFT runners do it again!

CLEFT runners do it again!

Our wonderful group of CLEFT runners took part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon 2021. Some of our runners were racing; others were just happy to take part and soak up the atmosphere (whilst raising money for CLEFT, of course!) - but everyone completed the 21km (13.1 miles). Read more

Published: 11th October, 2021

Updated: 5th October, 2022

Author: Melanie Baldwin

James runs the London Marathon

James runs the London Marathon

One of CLEFT's amazing supporters, James, ran the 2021 London Marathon for CLEFT in 3 hours 31 minutes and raised thousands in the process. Read more

Published: 7th October, 2021

Updated: 8th November, 2021

Author: Melanie Baldwin

Big thanks to Gywneth and daughter Alice for raising £541

Big thanks to Gywneth and daughter Alice for raising £541

What started off as a simple wardrobe clear-out ended up being an amazing fundraising success thanks to Gwyneth and Alice's effort and generosity. Read more

Published: 20th April, 2021

Author: Melanie Baldwin

My climb of Mt Kimilanjaro by Jack Walker, aged 12

My climb of Mt Kimilanjaro by Jack Walker, aged 12

“Pole pole”. These were the words drilled into our heads during the seven days we spent soldiering on in pursuit of the snow-capped peak. Read more

Published: 4th February, 2020

Author: Melanie Baldwin

A trip to the roof of the world

A trip to the roof of the world

A group of 12 adventurers, aged between 12 and 58 years old, left London in October 2019 for the challenge of a lifetime – to climb Mount Kilimajaro in Tanzania. Everyone had spent a year planning, training and fundraising for it and were ready for the challenges that lay ahead. CLEFT trustee and Kilimanjaro climber, Tracy Morris, tells us her story.... Read more

Published: 19th December, 2019

Updated: 8th February, 2021

Author: Melanie Baldwin

A barn dance for Kilimanjaro

A barn dance for Kilimanjaro

CLEFT supporter, Jane, held a fabulous barn dance to raise funds for her Kilimanjaro climb. The evening's entertainment included hair cutting and two old ladies! Read more

Published: 8th October, 2019

Updated: 4th November, 2019

Author: Melanie Baldwin

A runner's tale

A runner's tale

An inspiring story about Dayalan and how he overcame severe injuries to run every year for CLEFT. Read more

Published: 3rd October, 2019

Updated: 20th April, 2021

Author: Melanie Baldwin

Ellis treks 12 miles

Ellis treks 12 miles

7 year old Ellis treks 12 miles for CLEFT raising a wonderful £168. Read more

Published: 3rd October, 2019

Updated: 6th November, 2019

Author: Melanie Baldwin

Willow swims for CLEFT

Willow swims for CLEFT

8 year old Willow completed a 2,000m swim in just 1 hour and 15 minutes and raised a staggering £12,856.90 for CLEFT! Read more

Published: 2nd October, 2019

Updated: 6th November, 2019

Author: Melanie Baldwin

Back to top

Latest

  • Patricia Rorison will be representing CLEFT at the BLAPRAS National Undergraduate Conference.

    Patricia Rorison will be representing CLEFT at the BLAPRAS National Undergraduate Conference.

    Barts and the London Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgical Society National Undergraduate Conference 2024: 27th January 2024

  • BLAPRAS National Plastic Surgery Conference X CLEFT

    BLAPRAS National Plastic Surgery Conference X CLEFT

    We are a student society in which we are running a global plastic surgery conference. We will be running a cleft lip workshop and have a cleft lip talk by a cleft surgeon. We want to raise awareness of this subspecialty and also thought it would be a greta idea to introduce a fund-raising aspect to this event.

  • New Year, New CLEFT Challenge!

    New Year, New CLEFT Challenge!

    We are VERY excited to announce our January challenge - Give It Up or Take It Up! Are you ready to kickstart 2024? This January, we challenge you to either Give It Up, giving up something like chocolate, caffeine or alcohol, or Take It Up, starting a new activity, like walking, painting or yoga. The choice is yours with an activity that is personal to you, fits in with daily routine and is challenging yet achievable.

  • New microscope unveiled in Iraq

    New microscope unveiled in Iraq

    Brian Sommerlad recently returned from his tenth visit to the cleft centre in Sulaimania in the Kurdish region of Iraq where he was able to attend the unveiling of the new operating microscope, donated by CLEFT.

Most read

  • Nawrin and the C-Arm

    Nawrin and the C-Arm

    This important piece of equipment was supplied by CLEFT and is used to see moving images of the cleft palate. Nawrin is a 13 year old girl who was experiencing speech difficulties and needed the C-Arm to show the cleft team if further surgery was required.

  • Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery

    Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery

    We are working with Bangladeshi specialists at the new Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery to create a sustainable centre to treat children with cleft lip and palate.

  • Our mission

    Our mission

    CLEFT was established in 2007 with one aim, to help improve the lives of children born with cleft lip and palate, either by funding research into the likely causes of the condition or by helping support teams in lower and middle income countries.

  • Donate

    Donate

    You can make a one-off donation today or sign up to giving a regular monthly gift. All donations, small or large, will help us to improve the lives of those born with cleft lip and palate both now and in the future.

  • The genetics of cleft lip and palate

    The genetics of cleft lip and palate

    Investigations into the genetics of cleft lip and palate to understand more about why cleft lip and palate occurs.

  • Brian Sommerlad, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Chair of Trustees

    For over 40 years, I have been involved in operating on babies, children and adults who have been born with cleft lip and/or palate.

  • About us

    About us

    CLEFT was established in 2007 by cleft surgeon Brian Sommerlad - based at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, together with a former patient and a patient's grandmother.

  • MRI Speech Assessment

    MRI Speech Assessment

    This important research looked at using MRI to assess whether further surgery could improve speech for people with repaired clefts.

  • An interview with Brian Sommerlad

    An interview with Brian Sommerlad

    This is a wonderful interview where the children ask the questions.

  • Our research vision

    Our research vision

    At CLEFT, our vision is of a future where clefts are preventable. Until we get there, we want to improve the lives of those born with cleft lip and palate.

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Writtle
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