CLAPA stars on BBC television as cricketer Tom raises awareness
CLAPA starred on BBC television news across Somerset, Devon and Cornwall last night – in an interview with professional cricketer Tom Kohler-Cadmore and his partner Melissa Avison.
The couple were featured in a television interview on BBC Points West and BBC Spotlight, with their baby Dougie who was born last month with a unilateral cleft lip and palate. Earlier in the day, the interview was also aired on BBC Radio Somerset, alongside an interview with our CEO Claire Cunniffe.
The BBC contacted CLAPA after they spotted one of our stickers on Tom’s cricket bat. Tom had attached the sticker in time for The Hundred national competition – where he played with Welsh Fire, one of eight regional teams in the 100-ball tournament.
The Hundred was screened on Sky Sports and the BBC. Coverage included close ups of the sticker-ed bat and Tom speaking on the pitch about CLAPA.
Last night’s BBC interview was held at Tom’s house in Taunton, where he plays cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club. It was also an opportunity for our CEO Claire to meet the family. The BBC journalist was already a fan of CLAPA – as his teenage son was born with a cleft lip and palate.
After the interview, Tom said: “It was really great to speak to the BBC and meet up and chat to Claire. I’m so proud to be doing this for CLAPA – it’s been my way of giving something back.
“The Hundred has been a brilliant tournament to raise awareness about CLAPA, who’ve been an amazing help for me and my partner Melissa.”
Claire added: “It was wonderful to meet Tom, his partner Melissa and adorable baby Dougie, and also a BBC journalist who knows
CLAPA so well.
“Tom’s doing a fantastic job of raising awareness for cleft and CLAPA. It was a real treat to meet up with one of our families in person and have precious baby cuddles with Dougie.”
Tom, aged 31, has played cricket since he was five years old and been a professional cricketer for more than 13 years. He’s played at county level in Worcestershire and Yorkshire and moved to play for Somerset three seasons ago.
He will continue to play with the CLAPA sticker-ed bats at Somerset until the end of the cricket season.
Dougie was born on August 2, just five days before The Hundred competition started.
During an interview with CLAPA, Tom said: “He was born on his due date, so I was very relieved, as was Melissa. We were worried I’d be up and down the country and get a phone call mid-game to come home quick!
“His cleft gives him a little bit of extra personality. It always looks like he’s smiling, which is nice, even when he’s crying.”
“We were worried about his appearance before he was born, but now we love it – he’s so cute. His cleft gives him a little bit of extra personality. It always looks like he’s smiling, which is nice, even when he’s crying.”
Dougie’s cleft lip was diagnosed at his 20-week scan, while Tom was on a pre-season cricket tour in Abu Dhabi.
“Everything had been completely fine, so we weren’t expecting anything. Melissa rang me, obviously very upset, and it was a real shock for us both, especially as I was so far away.”
Tom and Melissa were quickly directed to their NHS Cleft Team and CLAPA.
“At first it was scary, but once the cleft team and CLAPA were involved, it’s been pretty smooth sailing. Having all the support from you guys at CLAPA, and everyone around us, made it very simple.
“It helped us know what we were getting ourselves into, and what was coming, instead of thinking about the ‘what ifs’ all the time.
“CLAPA has been a huge help, with the Welcome Pack, Facebook groups, Zoom events, and being able to get information whenever we’ve needed it. It’s made such a big difference to us.”
During The Hundred competition, Tom asked some of the biggest names in cricket – including England batter Josh Butler, and Kane Williamson, New Zealand’s Test Match Captain – to sign his match shirts, and will be running an online competition to win them and raise funds for CLAPA.
“CLAPA’s been there for us all the way through, and I want to raise as much as I can, in money and awareness.”
“CLAPA’s been there for us all the way through, and I want to raise as much as I can, in money and awareness.” 
Dougie’s having his first operation in January, which fits in well with Tom’s cricket year. As a professional, Tom plays all year round, including overseas during the English winter. He’s in Dubai this November and December.
“It’s worked out well with Dougie’s big first operation timings. And it’s an absolute blessing having CLAPA supporting us. There’s never been a question that’s not been answered, or a time when we’ve been sat around worrying.
“Dougie was taking longer to feed the other day and, after just a quick conversation with someone at CLAPA, we went up a bottle teat size and he was all sorted again.
“I think, as a first-time parent, you’re there thinking ‘what’s going on?’ a lot of times, so having that extra level of support has been amazing. And it’s been fantastic to be able to give something back.”
