Dear Friends, 

I am so excited and honoured to be able to be a member of the Operation Smile Canada team. Since joining the organization, I have truly fallen in love with the work that we do, and the children that we serve. I feel very blessed to hear first hand accounts of the life-changing surgical and comprehensive care that our organization delivers.

This year, we as a group have challenged ourselves to fundraise to in order to help reach our overall goal of 2,020 smiles.

But I need your help.

Every three minutes in countries around the world, a child is born with a cleft lip, a cleft palate, or both. In many low- and middle- income countries, children don't have access to the surgical care that they need. On top of this number, which continues to grow everyday, there are at least a half-million people around the world who are living with an untreated cleft lip or palate.

If we come together, I know we will be able to change the lives of so many children with surgery, which costs as little as $240.00. Please, give what you can to help make a difference. To encourage you to donate though, I have created some incentives!

When donations reach $500.00, I will do a 24 hour food fast (not including water) in solidarity with the children who were born with cleft conditions and experience difficulty eating and breastfeeding. 

When donations reach $750.00, I will do a 48 hour vow of silence (on the weekend, as not to interrupt my work flow) in solidarity with the children who were born with cleft conditions and experience difficulty speaking.

When donations reach $1000.00, I will complete a 10km run, in solidarity with some of the families who have to travel such extensive distances to reach our surgical centres. 

When donations reach $1500.00, I will wear one item of Operation Smile gear for 15 days straight in order to celerate this incredible milestone! Like an a-WEAR-ness campaign!

If donations surpass $1500.00, which I truly hope they do, I will continue to generate incentive moments of celebration to mark our collective efforts! As well, for every $100.00 that is raised on my page, I will commit to sewing a hospital gown for a child with a cleft condition, which is a resource which is sometimes not available in hospitals in low- and middle- income countries. 

I thank you in advance for supporting this cause, which I hold so close to my heart. I truly believe this is the best way that I can be spending my free time during this period of social distancing. If you were interested in joining my cause, hear more about our organization, or set up your own fundraising page, please email me at mary.grant@operationsmile.org