A PLASTIC surgeon is helping children born with facial palsy to smile.

Consultant Adel Fattah, aged 39, performs delicate microsurgery at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

He is running the Mersey Tunnel 10k on Sunday, June 8, with theatre staff nurse Laura Duffy-Abrahams from Runcorn to raise awareness of the rare condition.

Mum-of-two Laura, aged 29, from Sandymoor, said: “I cannot imagine my children not being able to smile at me every day.

“Hearing stories about what a difference this surgery is making, it is really amazing to be part of it.

“We are trying to support families.”

She has two children, Georgina, aged five, and a three-year-old son, Sebastian.

Pupils at her daughter’s school, Daresbury Primary, will be selling cakes on Wednesday June 4 to support the appeal.

They are raising money for The Moebius Research Trust, a charity set up by parents of children with Moebius syndrome which affects less than 20 children a year. They often have problems with hearing, eyesight, swallowing, speech and sleep.

Mr Fattah, who trained in Canada to perform this pioneering surgery, said: “When a child has facial disfigurement it can have a major psychological impact on their whole life.

“It leads to problems at school and affects their confidence.

“The results of surgery take about a year. You have to wait for nerves to grow and muscles to develop.

“We say a lot with our faces. When you see the children smile it is awesome. It makes me smile.”

Visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/AlderHeyFacialPalsy if you wish to sponsor them.

Visit moebiusresearchtrust.org/ for more information about The Meoebius Research Trust.