Dear Reader,
Over the course of the next six weeks I will be biking across America from Savannah, Georgia on the east coast to Los Angeles, California on the west. Throughout my trip I plan to raise awareness and support for Smile Train by representing the charity. Smile Train is an organization that specifically aids children with what is known as a ‘cleft lip’ or a ‘cleft palate’. Cleft lips and palates are actually the most common facial malformations in newborns; every 3 minutes a child with a cleft is born. A simple Google search of this term will show what this deformity looks like but what the Google search will not show you is the daily struggles that these children must endure. Between constant social rejection and being highly prone to chronic ear infections which can result in permanent deafness, living with a cleft can be extremely difficult. A single surgery in countries like India or the Philippines can cost around $250 and can change a life forever. My family and I have been regular contributors over the past 17 years and feel that Smile Train deserves as much support as it can get. Due to the rather common nature of the cleft birth condition, we believe that it is important to be grateful for our luck in health and help those who are less fortunate. I ask that you help me reach my goal of $1 donated for every mile I bike. Those $3,000 will help give at least 12 kids their smile back.
Best,
Age
https://www.mysmiletrain.org/campaign/Adrian-rides-for-SMILES