A MUM has taken steps to thank the charity which supported her when her unborn baby was diagnosed with a cleft lip and palate.

Kirsty Hilton found out during her 20-week scan that her daughter Coco would be born with the conditions.

She contacted CLAPA, the Cleft Lip and Palate Association, which came to see her the following day and helped her to understand what to expect and the treatment that Coco, now five months, would need.

Ms Hilton, of Hulme Road, Leigh, said: “The charity has helped me a lot, especially through the rough times. Without them I wouldn’t have known what a cleft lip was, never mind what to expect when Coco was born.

“When I first found out I didn’t know what to expect, but the charity told me all about the different kinds of clefts that can occur and what can happen.

“They have taught me what to expect when feeding her and they will help her with her speech therapy. She has had one operation already to fix her lip and at the end of August she will have another one because she was born without a palate.

“Because of this she will need to learn to speak differently but apart from that she won’t need any more treatment until she is about six and the charity will continue to support us until she is 20 years old.”

Ms Hilton completed a sponsored walk around Heaton Park accompanied by Coco, her five-year-old daughter Chloe and sister Louise Hilton.

The 29-year-old delivery driver said: “It went really well. It was only a short walk because it was for children too but I’m hoping to do much more for the charity like bag packing or having a collection in a supermarket.”

She has so far raised £600 and has support from Leigh MP Andy Burnham.

To make a donation, visit uk.virgin moneygiving.com/ louisehilton81 or text COP099 to 70070 to donate £1.