Let's Face It is a support network for children and adults who have a different face. It was founded in 1984 by Christine Piff who remains the director. In 1977 Christine had a cancerous tumour in her left cheek. The treatment she underwent was a six week course of radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy. The tumour was resistant to both treatments and she had to undergo surgery which resulted in the loss of half her palate, her upper teeth and, a few months later after another tumour presented itself, her left eye.
During this traumatic period, Christine felt that there was no one there for her who had experienced anything like it. She was made to feel unique and totally isolated and on her own. Seven years later she had the opportunity to appear on television and there launched Let's Face It. She didn't realise what would happen but, fourteen years later, Let's Face It is an international registered charity working throughout the UK and advising and helping set up similar groups all over the world.
The aims of the network are
Their large umberella encompasses many other groups whose aim is to support people with a facial difference. They offer these resources to people who contact them and aim to provide whatever the individual person needs at that time. Many friends have been with them for fourteen years, helping to co-ordinate meetings of groups all over the country. For people who cannot, or choose not to meet there is a newsletter which goes out all over the world, uniting adults and children together. Friends are linked together in areas where they live and people with similar problems are available to support one another. The group have a presence on the Internet and LFI friends are communicating with one another all over the world, seeking and receiving information as well as providing mutual support.
Victoria Wood is the patron of Let's Face It and amongst other resources there is a tape read by Victoria of the book Me and My Face by Victoria Henderson, which was LFI's first publication. There is now another publication Children's Faces which they are hoping to send to every school in the country.
Christine Piff believes that if we can educate children to value the person behind the face, we will have a generation who will be more tolerant of facial 'differences'. Let's Face It believes that education leads to understanding. For more information about Let's Face It.