Support for Stichting Eigen Gezicht

On 20 november, I will (again) be running for a good cause, Stichting Eigen Gezicht. This time I will run the 'zeven heuvelen loop' (the seven hills run, http://www.zevenheuvelenloop.nl) in Nijmegen, a hilly track of 15 km. Stichting Eigen Gezicht (www.eigengezicht.nl) is a foundation that aims to help people with facial abnormalities or deformations to cope better with this handicap, to become socially more resilient, and to have a happy and successful life. Even though there have been made great progress with reconstructive plastic surgery and other medical treatments, often the facial devation remains more or less visible. Because the face is an important and visible part of our body, it can be hard to live with a different face. Children and young adults are frequently bullied and verbally abused. Adults have to deal with stares, rude comments and probing questions. The loss of privacy can be so burdensome that they will withdraw and end up in social isolation. Stichting Eigen Gezicht wants to help these people with support and educational measures for the medical profession and the general public.