Tagged with:Your Stories

  • Kayleigh’s Story: an update!

    21 Mar 2020

    Though my first thoughts when I found out about Sydney having a cleft were very mixed, I now couldn’t be any prouder if I tried. I had nothing to worry about, my little girl is amazing, she’s full of sass and confidence and I hope she stays this way!

  • Izzie’s Story

    12 Mar 2020

    Keen gymnast Izzie decided to take on a 'Three Giants' challenge a few months ago to raise money for CLAPA! She raised an incredible £280 and we are so inspired by her determination. Here’s her story.

  • Anneka and Aria’s story

    13 Jan 2020

    Anneka's daughter Aria was born with Pierre Robin Syndrome. Now that Aria is two years old, Anneka reflects on their journey and has a strong message for other parents: 'please know it gets better'.

  • Joanna and Harry’s story

    2 Dec 2019

    Joanna's son Harry was diagnosed with a Cleft Lip and Palate when she was pregnant in 2009. Joanna recently got in touch with CLAPA to share their story, and looks back at Harry's resilience and determination over the years. She says, 'He knows he’s not alone. He knows he’s in the 1 in 700 club!'

  • Hollie-Grace’s Story

    25 Nov 2019

    After experiencing terrible bullying at her old school, Hollie-Grace discovered a love for running which has boosted her confidence and self-belief. She hopes to encourage others to believe in themselves and know they can achieve anything, regardless of their differences. Hollie-Grace's mum, Nikki, kindly shared her story with CLAPA following an interview on ITV news.

  • Naomi & Oliver’s Story

    3 Oct 2019

    This World Smile Day, CLAPA welcomes 'Jamestown' Actress Naomi Battrick as our Ambassador. Here, she shares her memories of supporting longtime friend Oliver through one of the many cleft-related surgeries he went through.

  • Sarah’s Story

    20 Sep 2019

    During those formative years, I was in and out of GOSH for surgical procedures, either on my bladder or to correct my facial differences. In 1982 I had some of some bone marrow taken from my hip and grafted into the gap left by the cleft.

  • Amanda and Skye’s Story

    23 Aug 2019

    With the surprise of her first baby being born with a cleft, Amanda found that the experience was quite isolating. It was this that inspired her to become more involved with CLAPA, forming and running her own group for other Scottish families affected by cleft.

  • 40 years of CLAPA: An Interview with Gareth Davies

    1 Jul 2019

    Gareth Davies, now co-founder of the European Cleft Organisation (ECO) was CLAPA’s first CEO (and first ever paid staff member) from 1995 until 2008. Gareth’s time as CEO saw Carol Vorderman invited to become CLAPA’s Patron in 2001, CLAPA’s first ever young people’s residential weekend in 2002, the launch of free ‘Welcome Packs’ for new parents and carers in 2003 and CLAPA’s first Adults’ Conference in 2007.

  • Nick’s Story

    28 Jun 2019

    "The cursor in the search bar blinked. Fingers sat motionless on the keys. Is this what we want to do? What are we hoping to find out? Why am I thinking, “how bad will it be?” Why her? Will she be okay? What will her life be like? All the questions that you may have wistfully imagined answers to while watching the sunrise now cascaded in search of answers in front of a monitor. The idea of finding out as frightening as not knowing."