Cricketer Tom Kohler-Cadmore has joined a campaign to raise money to help babies with cleft lip and palate.
The condition is often detected in the womb, and occurs when a gap forms in the baby’s upper lip and/or mouth. Kohler-Cadmore praised the support he and his family received after his son Dougie required two surgeries to repair his cleft lip and palate.
The money raised will go towards building a new centre at the Bristol Dental Hospital to provide surgery and treatment for children with the condition, and to the charity Cleft Lip and Palate Action (CLAPA).
It is currently legal in the UK to abort children up to birth if it is believed that the baby will be born with a disability, which can include cleft lip or palate. In 2023, 40 unborn babies with the condition were aborted in England and Wales.
Raise awareness
Kohler-Cadmore explained that he wanted to “give back” to the medics and organisations that helped his family, hailing the positive impact of knowing “that you’re not alone in the situation”.
He now plays cricket with a sticker in support of CLAPA on his bat, saying: “I’m in an extremely fortunate position myself where I have a slight little bit of a platform that I am able to raise awareness.”
Other sports stars joining the fundraiser include cricket legend Graeme Swann and England rugby hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie.
First smile
Dougie’s mum Melissa Avison said: “It was tricky, but we’ve made it through, and he’s happy, so that’s the main thing.”
Following the surgeries, Dougie is now able to eat normally and has been doing well. The mum said: “I think scared and nervous is just a real key word, and now I’m just so happy and proud.”
Avison urged parents in a similar position to “reach out to people” and get more information on the condition. She encouraged them to “also just take loads of pictures of baby’s first smile”.
Recalling that moment with Dougie, Avison said she has “fallen in love with that smile over and over again”.
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