News / Health & Wellness
More than 3,500 Children from More than 200 Schools Race in Shamrock Sportsfest’s 5th Annual Operation Smile Final Mile on March 19
Featuring Virginia’s First Lady, World Care patient from India, and children from Hampton Roads and other states who have suffered from clefts
Children, on your mark. Get set – GO! The race is on, but the stakes are much higher than just the finish line. More than 3,500 elementary-school students from more than 200 schools in Virginia and throughout the United States are racing in the 2011 Shamrock Sportsfest’s Operation Smile Final Mile in Virginia Beach. Their ultimate goal is to help the thousands of children who are suffering every day from the pain of a facial deformity. At such a young age, their determination to make a difference in their world is inspiring. The First Lady of Virginia, Maureen McDonnell, will be running alongside the children, as part of her key initiative to encourage children to engage in physical activity and good nutrition.
The Operation Smile Final Mile is designed to teach children the importance of exercise, commitment as well as philanthropy. Elementary school students run in school and/or at home during the months leading up to the race to complete 25.2 miles. On March 19, they will run their "final mile" for a total of 26.2 miles, the equivalent of one marathon. In 2010, the Final Mile was awarded "Youth Event of the Year” by Running USA magazine.
This is Operation Smile’s fifth year partnering with the Shamrock Sportsfest. In the past four years, Operation Smile Final Mile participants have helped raise enough donations to provide free surgery for 875 children who previously suffered from cleft lips and cleft palates, bringing hope, laughter and smiles to their lives.
WHAT: Shamrock Sportsfest’s Operation Smile Final Mile
WHO: 3,500+ elementary students from more than 200 schools in Virginia and the U.S.
WHEN: Saturday, March 19th
Finish – 31st Street on the Boardwalk in front of the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel
The need for quality cleft care is urgent. Every 3 minutes, it is estimated a child is born with a cleft condition. Operation Smile is dedicated to giving these children new smiles, raising awareness of this life-threatening issue and creating sustainability in the more than 60 countries in which the charity works.
Additional story angles are below. Media should contact Jessica Kraft, Director of PR for Operation Smile, to coordinate interviews. Photography and b-roll is available.
STORY ANGLES:
VIRGINIA’S FIRST LADY RUNS THE FINAL MILE, AS PART OF HER HEALTH AND WELLNESS INITIATIVE
Special guest Maureen McDonnell, the First Lady of Virginia, will celebrate at the Operation Smile Final Mile Opening Ceremonies with the children, and then run in the Final Mile along with several students from a variety of Hampton Roads schools. A key initiative for the First Lady is Health and Wellness, emphasizing preventive healthcare and healthy living through nutrition and physical activity, the prevention of childhood obesity, and awareness of prevention strategies. Of concern to the health of children in Virginia is the growing childhood obesity epidemic nationwide. In Virginia alone, more than 30 percent of children and teens are considered overweight or obese. The Operation Smile Final Mile is an incredible opportunity for parents to engage their children in a healthy approach to life through physical activity and good nutrition.
AFTER FOUR SURGERIES AT CHKD, WORLD CARE PATIENT FROM INDIA RUNS THE RACE
Operation Smile's World Care patient from India, 8-year-old Nur Mahamad, recently received his fourth and final surgery at the Children's Hospital for the King's Daughters (CHKD) for his severe facial deformity. He suffered from a bilateral oral ocular cleft with a nasal deformity. Since his arrival in Virginia last September, Nur made many new friends during his visits to numerous local elementary schools. He will be running with those new friends during the Operation Smile Final Mile. Nur will be meeting with people at Operation Smile’s Booth at the Race Expo at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on Friday, March 18. On Saturday, March 19, he will be at the 31st street stage for the Pre-Race Celebration and then will be lead the way at the starting line to complete his mile with his friends.
CHKD and physicians from Children’s Specialty Group have donated all their services for Nur’s surgeries and care, including all medications and supplies, operating room time, anesthesia services, post-surgical intensive care as well as post-operative nursing and medical care. CHKD is such a beloved organization in our area, and the generosity that they have given is truly inspirational. In May 2010, Nur traveled 12 hours by bus to Operation Smile’s medical mission site at the MMC hospital in Guwahati, India with his uncle. Nur’s family is incredibly poor, so they could not afford the surgeries that Nur so desperately needed.
SPECIAL GUEST RUNNERS FROM THE U.S. WHO SUFFERED FROM CLEFTS AT BIRTH
Caroline Inderlied: A fifth grader at Alanton Elementary, Caroline has run the Final Mile four times. She recently returned from a medical mission to Honduras with Operation Smile. During her trip, she shared some of her photos and experiences here - www.carolineandmarkoperationsmile.blogspot.com.
Tony Blackman Jr.: Nine-year-old Tony from Salem Elementary was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate and already has undergone several surgeries in his young life. This is his third year participating in the Final Mile. Each year, he goes the extra mile to help raise money for surgeries for other children born with clefts.
Faith Richter: A first-time Final Mile runner, Faith is travelling all the way from Wheeler, West Virginia. She was born with a cleft lip, had her first surgery at 3 months, and has undergone two more since. After learning more about the Operation Smile Final Mile, she decided to participate and help raise funds. Faith was particularly moved when she saw that there were children her age who were still affected by their clefts. Faith’s determination and work for Operation Smile was documented by her local news stations, after she rallied her school and community to host a walk-a-thon. Already, she has already raised enough for 7 surgeries. www.operationsmile.org/faith.
STAR OF “BIGGEST LOSER” CHAMPIONS THE STUDENTS AT THE OPENING CEREMONIES
During season 7 of NBC’s hit series “The Biggest Loser,” Tara Costa proved that where there’s a will there’s a way. She won a record-setting eight challenges, the most of any contestant in show history. Tara demonstrated her determination weekly and inspired millions with her heart, spirit and determination during her journey of losing 155 lbs. She will share this inspiration when she addresses the elementary school students during the Opening Ceremonies of the Final Mile. From marathons to triathlons, Costa has vowed to continue pushing herself and to inspire others. Already featured on the cover of magazines including Good Housekeeping and twice on OK Magazine, Costa is now excited about life and trying new things.
About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)
Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is an international children’s medical charity whose network of more than 5,000 medical volunteers from 79 countries is dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults. Since its founding in 1982 by Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, Operation Smile has treated more than 160,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and the organization has a presence in more than 60 countries. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its partner countries and donates crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency. Last fiscal year, nearly 60 percent of Operation Smile’s surgeries were provided either at the organization’s 11 global Comprehensive Care Centers or by in-country credentialed medical volunteers during local medical programs.
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The Operation Smile Final Mile is designed to teach children the importance of exercise, commitment as well as philanthropy. Elementary school students run in school and/or at home during the months leading up to the race to complete 25.2 miles. On March 19, they will run their "final mile" for a total of 26.2 miles, the equivalent of one marathon. In 2010, the Final Mile was awarded "Youth Event of the Year” by Running USA magazine.
This is Operation Smile’s fifth year partnering with the Shamrock Sportsfest. In the past four years, Operation Smile Final Mile participants have helped raise enough donations to provide free surgery for 875 children who previously suffered from cleft lips and cleft palates, bringing hope, laughter and smiles to their lives.
WHAT: Shamrock Sportsfest’s Operation Smile Final Mile
WHO: 3,500+ elementary students from more than 200 schools in Virginia and the U.S.
WHEN: Saturday, March 19th
- Pre-Race Celebration at 31st street stage begins at 9:30 a.m.
- Race starts at 11 a.m.
Finish – 31st Street on the Boardwalk in front of the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel
The need for quality cleft care is urgent. Every 3 minutes, it is estimated a child is born with a cleft condition. Operation Smile is dedicated to giving these children new smiles, raising awareness of this life-threatening issue and creating sustainability in the more than 60 countries in which the charity works.
Additional story angles are below. Media should contact Jessica Kraft, Director of PR for Operation Smile, to coordinate interviews. Photography and b-roll is available.
STORY ANGLES:
VIRGINIA’S FIRST LADY RUNS THE FINAL MILE, AS PART OF HER HEALTH AND WELLNESS INITIATIVE
Special guest Maureen McDonnell, the First Lady of Virginia, will celebrate at the Operation Smile Final Mile Opening Ceremonies with the children, and then run in the Final Mile along with several students from a variety of Hampton Roads schools. A key initiative for the First Lady is Health and Wellness, emphasizing preventive healthcare and healthy living through nutrition and physical activity, the prevention of childhood obesity, and awareness of prevention strategies. Of concern to the health of children in Virginia is the growing childhood obesity epidemic nationwide. In Virginia alone, more than 30 percent of children and teens are considered overweight or obese. The Operation Smile Final Mile is an incredible opportunity for parents to engage their children in a healthy approach to life through physical activity and good nutrition.
AFTER FOUR SURGERIES AT CHKD, WORLD CARE PATIENT FROM INDIA RUNS THE RACE
Operation Smile's World Care patient from India, 8-year-old Nur Mahamad, recently received his fourth and final surgery at the Children's Hospital for the King's Daughters (CHKD) for his severe facial deformity. He suffered from a bilateral oral ocular cleft with a nasal deformity. Since his arrival in Virginia last September, Nur made many new friends during his visits to numerous local elementary schools. He will be running with those new friends during the Operation Smile Final Mile. Nur will be meeting with people at Operation Smile’s Booth at the Race Expo at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on Friday, March 18. On Saturday, March 19, he will be at the 31st street stage for the Pre-Race Celebration and then will be lead the way at the starting line to complete his mile with his friends.
CHKD and physicians from Children’s Specialty Group have donated all their services for Nur’s surgeries and care, including all medications and supplies, operating room time, anesthesia services, post-surgical intensive care as well as post-operative nursing and medical care. CHKD is such a beloved organization in our area, and the generosity that they have given is truly inspirational. In May 2010, Nur traveled 12 hours by bus to Operation Smile’s medical mission site at the MMC hospital in Guwahati, India with his uncle. Nur’s family is incredibly poor, so they could not afford the surgeries that Nur so desperately needed.
SPECIAL GUEST RUNNERS FROM THE U.S. WHO SUFFERED FROM CLEFTS AT BIRTH
Mara Dempsey: This is the third year 9-year-old Mara is participating in the Final Mile. A fourth-grader at Three Oaks Elementary School, Mara was born with a cleft lip and received surgery when she was 10 weeks old. Through her involvement with Operation Smile, Mara has met World Care patients from Nicaragua, Honduras, and India. She showed them her surgery scar and let them know that everything would be okay.
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Caroline Inderlied: A fifth grader at Alanton Elementary, Caroline has run the Final Mile four times. She recently returned from a medical mission to Honduras with Operation Smile. During her trip, she shared some of her photos and experiences here - www.carolineandmarkoperationsmile.blogspot.com.
Tony Blackman Jr.: Nine-year-old Tony from Salem Elementary was born with a cleft lip and cleft palate and already has undergone several surgeries in his young life. This is his third year participating in the Final Mile. Each year, he goes the extra mile to help raise money for surgeries for other children born with clefts.
Cody Smith: Three-year-old Cody, his mother Jaime, and many friends and family supporters are traveling from Nashville, Tenn., for the third year in a row to participate in the Operation Smile Final Mile festivities. Cody was born with a cleft lip which has since been repaired. In the past three years, Cody and his family have raised money for more than 24 surgeries. View Cody’s online fundraising page at www.operationsmile.org/cody.
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Faith Richter: A first-time Final Mile runner, Faith is travelling all the way from Wheeler, West Virginia. She was born with a cleft lip, had her first surgery at 3 months, and has undergone two more since. After learning more about the Operation Smile Final Mile, she decided to participate and help raise funds. Faith was particularly moved when she saw that there were children her age who were still affected by their clefts. Faith’s determination and work for Operation Smile was documented by her local news stations, after she rallied her school and community to host a walk-a-thon. Already, she has already raised enough for 7 surgeries. www.operationsmile.org/faith.
STAR OF “BIGGEST LOSER” CHAMPIONS THE STUDENTS AT THE OPENING CEREMONIES
During season 7 of NBC’s hit series “The Biggest Loser,” Tara Costa proved that where there’s a will there’s a way. She won a record-setting eight challenges, the most of any contestant in show history. Tara demonstrated her determination weekly and inspired millions with her heart, spirit and determination during her journey of losing 155 lbs. She will share this inspiration when she addresses the elementary school students during the Opening Ceremonies of the Final Mile. From marathons to triathlons, Costa has vowed to continue pushing herself and to inspire others. Already featured on the cover of magazines including Good Housekeeping and twice on OK Magazine, Costa is now excited about life and trying new things.
About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)
Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is an international children’s medical charity whose network of more than 5,000 medical volunteers from 79 countries is dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children and young adults. Since its founding in 1982 by Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee, Operation Smile has treated more than 160,000 children born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities and the organization has a presence in more than 60 countries. In addition to contributing free medical treatment, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals in its partner countries and donates crucial equipment to lay the groundwork for long-term self-sufficiency. Last fiscal year, nearly 60 percent of Operation Smile’s surgeries were provided either at the organization’s 11 global Comprehensive Care Centers or by in-country credentialed medical volunteers during local medical programs.
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