I will be running the Great Ocean Road Marathon in May this year, in an attempt to raise funds and awareness for a cause personal to me: surgically repairing the cleft lips and palates of disadvanatged children. 

As some of you already know, I was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate. From 3 months old to 20 years old, I have had around ten surgeries to repair both the functional and cosmetic components of my lip and palate. I was very fortunate for the high quality of surgical and medical care I received over the course of my childhood and adolescence. My experiences with hospitals and medical services were always extremely positive, so much so that I am now pursuing a career in medicine!

I have always been quite a confident kid and my cleft is a proud addition to what makes up my uniqueness. But I understand and deeply empathise with children who are not in the same position. My motivation is to help and inspire those who are on their own cleft journeys, and perhaps grappling with its challenges or not granted access to necessary care.

Globally, every three minutes a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate. In too many cases around the world, surgery to fix cleft conditions is neither accessible nor affordable. It takes as little as 45 minutes to provide surgery to children and adults living with cleft conditions, forever changing their lives.

Operation Smile Australia is a volunteer-based global medical charity that provides free surgery to repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities in children and young adults in over 60 countries around the world. You can read more about them here.

Please donate here in support of my running and to help Operation Smile Australia carry on their fantastic work. If you are not in a position to donate, please share this page to help raise awareness and reach more people who may be in a position to do so.

Thanks for the support yall!