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Many people have devoted hours of their time each week over many years, offering support to families affected by cleft lip and palate.

We would like to offer special thanks to the following people who might be thought of as having laid the foundations of CLAPA in the beginning and of having worked tirelessly to keep it going since:

• Michael Mars - who was one of the founders of the charity, and was the chair of the trustees for 25 years.
• Jan Robertson - who ran the feeding service for many years, giving over a room in her home to packing bottles and sending them out daily, as well as responding to telephone queries about feeding a baby with a cleft.
• Cy Thirlaway - who, as the National Secretary of CLAPA, had years of answering telephone calls and letters from parents, and was a key figure in developing CLAPA as a respected voice of authority.
• Jill White - who was one of the key figures in getting CLAPA off the ground 21 years ago and who was the Chair of CLAPA Great Ormond Street, the first CLAPA Group, for many years.
• Barry White - who worked with Jill, his wife, in developing and maintaining CLAPA Great Ormond Street, and who was a CLAPA Trustee for many years.
• Sheila Stephen - long time chair of CLAPA Reading and instrumental in establishment of first national office

It is impossible to acknowledge and thank everyone by name, but we are aware of how we would not be here today without the enthusiasm, commitment and generosity of all the many, very special, people who have contributed their time and energies to making sure that information, support and special bottles and teats are available to every family affected by cleft lip and palate in the UK.

Thank you!