Operation Smile Final Mile

Thousands of elementary students gave me a reason to smile this weekend.

More than 3,500 students, ages 6 to 12, participated in the Operation Smile Final Mile, Shamrock Sportsfest's youth event, in Virginia Beach, VA. Each of these students ran 25.2 miles in increments during the months preceding the race, and then ran their final mile this Saturday to complete a MARATHON!

Not only do they focus on their own fitness and helping themselves, but also helping others less fortunate.  Just by participating in the race, all of the runners helped raise awareness for Operation Smile, and many went the extra mile to help raise funds and smiles for those served by Operation Smile.

Operation Smile helps children in more than 25 countries around the world that are affected by cleft lip and cleft palate.  These children and their families either do not have the funds to afford the care they need, or the care needed simply isn't available. For every $240, Operation Smile medical volunteers can provide a free cleft lip surgery to a child in need.  

So far, the elementary runners in this year's race, have raised more than 170 smiles!  Over the past five years, participants in the race have raised more than 1,000 smiles - a truly amazing effort by elementary students.

 At the Race Expo

At the Pre-Race Celebration with Nur

 3rd year runner, Tony, was also born with a cleft

Nur on the mic:)

 Teachers and a student competing for the '2011 Silly Shamrock Contest'

And here are the winners!

The girls are excited for their special race start with Nur!

The Start Line

And their off!

Learn more about the event at www.operationsmile.org/finalmile and www.shamrockmarathon.com.