All Aboard the Smile Train Two young men’s charity work
Two inspiring young men go the extra mile to support this life-changing surgical charity
Despite an incredibly difficult start to life, Nathan Abbott has overcome many obstacles to become the man he is today.
Born with a severe cleft lip and palate, he’s had 30 surgeries, with more to follow, to correct his condition.
That’s not where his problems end, though. Nathan suffered horrific bullying, especially at secondary school, so much so that he was forced to drop out in year eight.
“My school had over a thousand pupils. Walking through the corridors was very intimidating as people would give me funny looks, mimic me, and call me names,” said Nathan.
“Over time the bullying became worse.
“I remember one day I was hit over the head with a bag containing studded football boots.”
He made the decision he wasn’t going to let the bullies affect him any more, dropping out of school to avoid the relentless attacks.
A year studying at home gave Nathan the confidence to return to education, as well as a passion for swimming. A switch to a new school changed his life.
The support of the new school, teachers and his fellow students – something he’d never experienced before – helped him find the confidence that hadn’t been there as he was growing up.
“Not only was I welcomed into their community, but I also came across Smile Train – an international charity which provides free cleft care for children, just like me, around the world.”
The charity has played a prominent part in Nathan’s life ever since.
He has raised well over £15,000 for Smile Train through numerous rigorous swimming challenges he has undertaken. However, he isn’t content with just that. Having just turned 21 this year, he has set himself a fundraising target of £21,000 to coincide with his big birthday.
Now Nathan, of Littlehampton, Sussex, has started helping people who have the same condition as him, through Smile Train.
“I became aware that millions of children across the globe are born with clefts – including those born in less developed regions who don’t have access to the medical care we take for granted in the UK. It’s difficult to comprehend how a child with an untreated cleft can cope knowing that they may never have cleft repair surgery.
“I’ve always believed that actions speak louder than words. With this in mind, I decided that I wanted to do something to help improve the lives of children with clefts in the developing world.
“At the age of sixteen, I created Freestyle 4 Smiles – a non-profit fundraising movement to raise funds and awareness for Smile Train through personal challenges and more recently, group events.
“In addition to my charity work for Smile Train, I have recently started at university, and I am studying for a business degree – something I am excited about and very proud of.”
For someone of his age to have faced such adversity and kept smiling, Nathan Abbott’s selflessness and positive attitude should surely ser ve as inspiration not just to those who are having difficulties growing up, but to all of us.
“I wanted to improve the lives of children with clefts in the developing world”