I’m excited to be skydiving to raise funds for CLEFT, a charity that has been incredibly important to me over the past three years. During this time, I have been a proud member of the CLEFT Doctor Committee, working alongside an inspiring multidisciplinary team.

CLEFT is a truly special charity because of its holistic, MDT-focused approach to cleft care. Rather than delivering one-off surgery, CLEFT focuses on sustainable, long-term change by training and supporting local healthcare professionals. Their work spans surgery, speech and language therapy, dentistry, orthodontics, psychology, and nursing, ensuring children born with cleft lip and palate receive comprehensive care throughout their lives.

We have seen how this approach transforms outcomes for patients and families in countries such as Nepal and Kazakhstan, where CLEFT supports local teams to build strong, self-sustaining cleft services. The charity’s upcoming work, including a planned trip to Mozambique, continues this mission, prioritising education, follow-up care, and empowering local clinicians rather than short-term interventions.

What truly sets CLEFT apart is its family feel. Everyone involved, including surgeons, dentists, therapists, trainees, and volunteers. Professionals who all share the same values of compassion, teamwork, and long-term commitment. Being part of CLEFT feels like being part of a community that genuinely cares about patients, families, and each other.

By skydiving for CLEFT, I hope to support this incredible work that helps ensure that children born with cleft conditions, wherever they are in the world, have access to the high-quality, multidisciplinary care they deserve. Alexandra Robinson