South East

Kathy tells her story...

"I was born with neurofibromatosis. This is a condition where a fault on the 17th chromosome where the sheath surrounding the nerve endings causes a growth to occur under or on the skin.

"I have had numerous operations to remover them with varying degrees of success."

Challenging situations

"School was not easy with a number of challenging situations where I felt my appearance was negatively equated with a "bad" personality.

"One of the most difficult experiences when I was working in my early twenties. I got into the lift with a man. He asked me if I had a gumboil.

""No", I said. "Toothache?" he then asked. "No", I said again."

""Then what is wrong with you?" he demanded.

"I was so upset that I shouted: "If you must know, I'm deformed I got out of the lift and burst into tears."

Confidence boost

"Afterwards the surgeon told me that he had done what he could. Further surgery could lead to scarring or facial paralysis.

"What I had to do was to develop my personality. Excellent advice.

"There was now something that I could do to empower myself and take control of my life.

"Over the years, I did various courses in personal development. Probably the best was an Assertiveness Course.

"This was a liberating and life-changing experience. I am a naturally sociable and gregarious person."

Socially adroit

"I have no problems in walking into a room full of strangers, introducing myself and finding out about them and their interests.

"Apart from children, it is now rare for anyone to stare. When they do, I smile, say "hello" and maybe start a conversation.

"Whilst I have developed more "spots" over the years as I get older, I know that I can take the initiative.

"I have developed a range of strategies to deal with people's negative or challenging behaviour.

"This, I feel, will enable those who make value judgements because of my appearance to re-evaluate their negative assumptions ("assume" makes an "ass out of "U" and "me")."

No limits

"I hope that they will find out that I have something more to offer than a spotty appearance.

"In a society that is obsessed with youth and beauty, there needs to be a challenge of these prejudices and a move towards an equality of age and appearance.

"These should not be a limit on what anyone can achieve."

Kathy Lacy changes places...

Kathy thinks that it is a shame that TV presenters could not possibly be as extreme looking as she is

So Inside Out suggested Kathy challenged the prejudices head on by becoming an Inside Out presenter for the day.

Kathy, a former trainer in the NHS and for Changing Faces, jumped at the opportunity  to present a feature on post offices on Inside Out next week on Friday 18 April.

Reflecting on her 15 minutes of fame Kathy says: "I have always been willing to take on opportunities and challenges; I don't think I've turned anything down since I was small. I think that is part of my personality not necessarily because of the condition.

"I want to raise awareness and encourage people to stop looking at someone like me and thinking that I have nothing to offer or that I am scary or thick.

"A lot of it is about having confidence. You need to take the initiative when meeting people, breaking down their barriers and inhibitions for them."