Hundreds of Elementary School Students Running the Operation Smile Final Mile to Learn Importance of Exercise and Help Children Worldwide

Approximately 2,000 elementary school students are participating in the Operation Smile Final Mile to get fit and raise money for Operation Smile, a worldwide children’s medical charity.  The Operation Smile Final Mile is part of The Shamrock Sportsfest, which features a full marathon, half marathon, 8k race and the Operation Smile Final Mile, held March 15 & 16 in Virginia Beach, Va.  In September, students ages 7-13 participating in the Operation Smile Final Mile began running to complete 25.2 miles, in order to run their final mile on the boardwalk on March 15 for a total of 26.2 miles, the equivalent of a marathon. The Operation Smile Final Mile is designed to teach children the importance of exercise and proper nutrition and many of the students running are also raising money for Operation Smile by collecting pledges for their completed miles.  This program has grown significantly, and this year includes more than 130 elementary schools from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Arizona, and Canada.  Sixty elementary schools in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, Yorktown and Williamsburg are participating in the Operation Smile Final Mile program and hundreds of students are collecting pledges for Operation Smile. 

Operation Smile President and Co-founder Kathy Magee said, “Thousands of youth around the world are involved with Operation Smile, so this partnership with the Shamrock Sportsfest is a great fit.  The Operation Smile Final Mile program teaches the importance of exercise while teaching kids about how they can help other children around the world.  Last year hundreds of children participated and nearly $50,000 was raised.”

As one of the largest children’s races in Virginia, Final Mile coordinator Kristyn Shiring is very pleased with the response.  “I am overwhelmed by the number of schools and students participating in this event.  It is very rewarding to see the determination and excitement these kids have.  I cannot wait to watch them complete their Final Mile and wrap the medals around their necks,” says Shiring.

Brigette Clifford, daughter of Operation Smile’s Co-founders Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, helped create the program.  Clifford, mother of four, has three boys who attend Alanton Elementary School in Virginia Beach and are participating in the Operation Smile Final Mile.  “It has been amazing to watch Kids Miles for Smiles, 2 children as young as five years old show compassion for a child they have never met, with the resolution that they are going to run as many miles as they can so that they can be personally responsible for changing the life of a child living with a facial deformity.  As parents, we are witnessing positive change in our children, as they build character and develop leadership skills that ultimately will make them better and more caring people.”
     
As a high school student at Norfolk Academy in 1985, Clifford and other students founded the first Operation Smile student club, called “The Happy Club.”  Today, thousands of students in more than 500 Operation Smile Student Associations worldwide build awareness, raise funds and educate students about the values of commitment, leadership and volunteerism, instilling in them for life the importance of giving to others.  Student volunteers raise an estimated $1.2 million annually for Operation Smile.  At least two high school students accompany each international mission team. 

About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)
Founded in 1982, Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is a worldwide children’s medical charity whose network of global volunteers are dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults.  Since its founding, Operation Smile volunteers have treated more than 115,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its 26 partner countries and leaves behind crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency.