Tina Doering's Miles for Smiles

The last two years are a bit of a blur, we’re entering the third year of the pandemic; countries are at war and some have lost much. I feel blessed that during this time I’ve found comfort in volunteering. One of the organizations that has filled my heart is Smile Network International. 

Smile Network is a non-profit, humanitarian organization that specializes in providing free surgeries for impoverished children in developing countries who are born with cleft lips and palates. Since 2003, the organization has completed 60 missions and provided over 4,300 free operations on children and adults in 13 countries on five continents.

Cleft palates are a birth defect that is relatively easy to fix yet has life altering impacts for those that do not have access to surgery. Many of the children effected are already in a nutritionally challenged environment which is then exacerbated by the child’s inability to properly breast feed, take a bottle or eat normally. For those children fortunate enough to survive nutritionally, the social impacts are truly life changing.  Many of these children are ostracized from their families and communities and end up at best, living on the outskirts of society. This $500 surgery provides a second chance to a child to live a normal and fulfilling life.

Due to the global COVID 19 pandemic Smile Network was forced to suspend all mission travel and they made the decision to redistribute all PPE and medical supplies to local hospitals and clinics in need. It is now time to start to rebuild those supplies and prepare for the return to mission work. As the world opens up, humanitarian travel will once again be possible. Plans are underway to continue the work of providing free surgeries in Haiti, Peru and Guatemala (where there are over 500 children awaiting surgery).

Here’s where I need your support. Please help me change a child’s life by raising $2500 to provide surgery for 5 children in need. This September, I’ll be walking a portion of the Camino de Santiago in Spain to help raise awareness and funds to support Smile Network. I will be covering all my own expenses related to this trip but again need your help to reach my goal of providing 5 crucial, life changing surgeries.