Julie Hofstedt's Miles for Smiles
A nonprofit fundraiser supporting
Smile Network InternationalJulie is hiking the Camino de Santiago in 2022 and raising money for Smile Network International.
$850
raised by 5 people
$2,500 goal
Faith, family, and friends have enriched my 60+ years of life and I do not take it for granted. One of my goals in 2020 was to reach out of my comfort zone to help make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. I am sure you have heard the phrase “A smile is worth a thousand words”. I can’t imagine not physically being able to smile due to a birth defect of a cleft lip or palate – and not having the resources to have a corrective surgery.
My plan is simple- I would like to raise awareness and the funds to bring a smile to the lives of at least 5 children who are considered to be some of the poorest children in the world. In September 2022, I will be joining a group of amazing women to trek The Camino de Santiago Trail with Smile Network International. I will be trekking 9-15 miles a day for 6 days, starting in Portugal and ending in the city of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Walking Miles for Smiles!
A couple of things I would like you to know is #1 I will be paying for all my own travel expenses and #2 is every penny raised will go to sponsor surgeries for children on an upcoming surgical mission. Your donation is 100% tax deductible . Smile Network is a Minnesota based non-profit. They perform 300-500 surgeries a year by doctors, nurses, and anesthesiologists – all volunteers! The surgeries are completed in 45 minutes and cost as little as $500. Right now surgeries and treks are paused because of Covid 19 with a waiting