BBC Radio 4 Appeal

Steve Mannion presents the BBC Radio 4 Appeal on behalf of CBM

CBM is an international Christian disability and development organisation, committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities and at risk from disabilities in the poorest countries of the world, irrespective of race, gender or religion.

Steve Mannion arriving at the BBC to record the CBM Clubfoot Appeal. Photo : CBM

Founded as the Christian Blind Mission, our sole initial focus was on causes of visual impairment. We are now known as CBM, as our mission has widened to include all forms of disability. The emphasis of CBM's work in poorer regions of the world is on local capacity development; equipping local people to transform local lives, and working to build long-term local expertise.

CBM last made an appeal on Radio 4 in 2009.  Thanks to your incredible support, we raised over £20,000 for our eye work in Africa.

For our 2012 appeal, CBM consultant surgeon Steve Mannion (shown to the right) talks about his orthopaedic work overseas; specifically clubfoot treatment. Every five minutes a child from a poor country is born with clubfoot. If left untreated, these children endure growing up with the pain, isolation and limited mobility of clubfoot, many unable to go to school.

Broadcast schedule  (listen via 92-95 FM or DAB)

Sun 10 June 2012	7:55am
Sun 10 June 2012	3:27pm	BBC Radio 4
Thu 14 June 2012	3:27 pm

If you were unable to listen to the appeal at the broadcast times  - you can still listen via both the Radio4 website and BBC iPlayer, using the links above.

Steve promotes the use of the Ponseti method – a manipulative, rather than surgical, technique that can be used to treat clubfoot in young children.

CBM is part of a global initiative to make clubfoot treatment available worldwide. Through the training of local people in the Ponseti technique, practically every child born with clubfoot in Malawi now has the opportunity to be treated by the age of two. We are now working to provide this same service in other countries. Steve travels widely to start Ponseti projects and to develop surgical resources; most recently in Madagascar (see pictures below of the Madagascar team Steve trained in the Ponseti method last month).

In 2011, CBM-supported local staff treated 28,654 children using the Ponseti method – the equivalent of helping 78 children to walk EVERY DAY. Many more still need our help.

£150 will treat a child with clubfoot and give the gift of mobility.
£30 will train a field worker in Ponseti treatment

We were so encouraged last time, we hope this time round that the total will be even greater. Thank you.