Cadmore fundraising after son's cleft lip ops

A cricketer has said he wants to "give back" to those who helped repair his newborn son's cleft lip and palate.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore, who plays for Somerset, will swap his bat for golf clubs to raise money for Cleft Lip and Palate Action (CLAPA), and to build a £2 million centre at Bristol Dental Hospital to provide care for patients with the condition.

His son, Dougie, has had two operations to correct his cleft lip, which is a gap or split in the upper lip and/or roof of the mouth (palate) that is present from birth.

Kohler-Cadmore said the support of professionals and the charity meant they were able to ask questions and "just know that you're not alone in the situation".

Any funds that are raised will help go towards the £500,000 Smile for Life Appeal to build the new centre, which CLAPA said will be just two miles from Bristol Temple Meads station, giving good access to patients from all over the South West of England.

Kohler-Cadmore has teamed up with Andrew March, a PGA golf professional at Burnham and Berrow Golf Club whose son Logan was also born with a cleft lip and palate, to hold the fundraising day.

Cricket legend Graeme Swann and England rugby star Luke Cowan-Dickie will also make an appearance, as well as the surgeons who carried out the repair on Dougie and Logan.

Kohler-Cadmore, who has had a sticker for CLAPA on his bat since his son's birth, said: "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.

"It's something I'm actually incredibly proud of... all the support they've given me, it's kind of nice to be able to give back and help raise awareness."

Reflecting on the past year since their son's surgeries, Kohler-Cadmore's partner, Melissa Avison, said: "It's all been very much worth it.

"It was tricky, but we've made it through, and he's happy, so that's the main thing."

She added that since the surgery, which she described as tough, Dougie has now been able to eat food without any issues, meaning he is developing better.

"I was so worried about how our parenting journey would look," she added.

"I think scared and nervous is just a real key word, and now I'm just so happy and proud."

Avison said parents in the same position should "reach out to people, ask those questions... but also just take loads of pictures of baby's first smile", adding she has "fallen in love with that smile over and over again".

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