Hi, I'm Gus. I'm the founder of the Arch Project, which is raising awareness of the Jaw Epidemic and Craniofacial Dystrophy (CFD) in the UK.
On Sunday 10th May 2026, I'll be attempting to run a marathon, from near Londesborough village to Hull (Queen Victoria Square), with tape over my mouth the whole way.
The purpose of this run is to fund my ongoing efforts on the project - it's not a charity yet, so all money goes to me personally - to bring attention to the cause, and to make a statement about the importance of nasal breathing.
A note on the personal/charity situation: As far as I know, there is no other patient-led organisation working on this issue in the UK. That's why I started the Arch Project and am now focusing all of my efforts on it. This includes research - my "teeth" bookmarks folder contains over 350 entries - outreach, writing, videos, and campaigns such as this one.
(Dr Mike Mew is an active campaigner, and I have worked with him briefly, but I think it's important for there to be an entirely patient-led effort, and I left his volunteer group for this reason.)
I've been helping other patients since 2023, when I wrote a blog and guide covering my expansion treatment in the US (jaws-guide.gushogg-blake.com). I've been working on ways to spread awareness and get recognition and action on CFD alongside this and other related projects, and I'm now focusing most of my efforts on advocacy with the Arch Project.
We know that CFD is an issue now. I will not stand by while another generation grows up with TMJ issues, sleep-disordered breathing, and a high likelihood of losing healthy adult teeth, to what is by now an easily recognisable, treatable, and ultimately preventable condition.
Thanks for all your support so far.
Gus
The Arch Project: https://www.arch-project.org
Craniofacial Dystrophy: https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2014.401

