Dad Dave is a keen cyclist and recently raised more than £3,600 for CLAPA – cycling 400 miles in just three days as part of the ‘Handlebarmyarmy’.
With three friends, and two following in a support van, he cycled from Bournemouth to Newcastle to watch his home football team AFC Bournemouth play at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park. It’s the longest-distance away day fixture Premier League fans can travel.
It was a real challenge to get there – three days at 120 and 130 miles a day.
Dave laughed: “It was a real challenge to get there – three days at 120 and 130 miles a day, 12 hours in the saddle, the furthest we’ve all ridden in a single day – and it rained constantly!”
‘Handlebarmyarmy’ is a group of AFC Bournemouth fans and friends who started cycling for charity eleven years ago, including Bournemouth to Manchester United’s Old Trafford, London to Paris, and John O’Groats to Land’s End.
Dave said fundraising for CLAPA was the “obvious choice” this time around, after his son Teddy was born in September 2024 with a unilateral cleft lip and palate.
Teddy’s cleft lip and “likely palate” were picked up at a 20-week pregnancy scan.
When you have that scan and that result, you’re instantly put on the back foot.
“When you have that scan and that result, you’re instantly put on the back foot because it’s not what you’re expecting at all. There’s no cleft in the family and Teddy’s our first child so it was a real shock,” said Dave.
“They sat me and my partner Rachel down, talked to us, gave us a leaflet, and pointed us towards you guys at CLAPA.
“I didn’t know anyone before Teddy with a cleft, but as you read up on it you realise it’s a lot more common than people think. Out of one in 700, that was us.
“Having that cleft diagnosis really takes the edge off the pregnancy. It’s supposed to be this great experience having your first baby but you then have so many more worries to contend with, and, until they’re born, you just don’t know what it’s going to be like.”
Dave said he and Rachel “were all over” CLAPA’s website and Facebook pages, picking up “tons of information” and “looking at lots of babies with cleft”, and joining in our online events.
At a point when everything was going at 100 miles an hour, the CLAPA community gave us time to just breathe and take it all in.
“The most important thing for us was CLAPA was there right from when we found out at the scan – somewhere we could listen to and talk to others. 
“To know it wasn’t just us going through it – there were all these people, albeit up and down the country – that was such a help and support, and allied a lot of our fears.
“At a point when everything was going at 100 miles an hour, the CLAPA community gave us time to just breathe and take it all in.”
When Teddy was born, Dave said many of their fears “simply disappeared” and they found their son “absolutely perfect”.
“The NHS cleft team was amazing and CLAPA was always there for information, contacts, and support. We’re both still on CLAPA’s Facebook pages, reading everyone else’s stories, and now helping others if something comes up that Teddy’s already been through.
Just knowing it’s there is support in itself.
“As Teddy gets older, and has the challenges of starting school etc, we’ll make sure we introduce him to CLAPA’s support as well. Just knowing it’s there is support in itself.”
Teddy is now almost two, and has grown into a “very vocal, very confident” toddler, with “boundless energy and a great personality”.
He’s also starting to share his dad’s cycling hobby.
Dave smiled: “He loves it and I recommend cycling for everyone. You’re not putting a huge amount of strain on your body, can cover a lot of ground quickly, and can see the scenery up in the saddle.
“Teddy loves taking his bike to our local outdoor velodrome together and watching cycling with me on the TV. Maybe one day he’ll be cycling for CLAPA too!”
To donate to the Handlebarmyarmy’s CLAPA fundraiser visit