Matthew is taking on the challenge of swimming the half-mile Swim Serpentine in Hyde Park, London, in support of CLEFT. As a former trustee of the charity and leader of the Corporate and Major Donor Committee, Matthew has an interesting CLEFT pedigree. His repair was carried out in the early 1960s at Great Ormond Street by the distinguished plastic surgeon David Matthews who had been taught his craft by Sir Archibald McIndoe, the Godfather of UK Plastic Surgery who undertook pioneering surgery on badly burned Second World War pilots. Matthews passed on the baton by being the trainer of Brian Sommerlad, the founder of CLEFT. In the 1990s Brian then repaired Matthew's son Theo's cleft at GOSH. Theo is now 29. So, this swim is a small way of saying thanks and helping Brian and colleagues across the UK continue CLEFT's important work worldwide. Every donation will go directly towards providing these children with the specialised treatment they need for a better future.
Please join Matthew in supporting this worthy and important cause. Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a lasting impact. One supporter, Matthew's partner, Emma, has promised a 4 figure donation if he completes the swim in a mankini. He's weighing this proposal up carefully. Matthew Gwyther