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I have been an active volunteer for Operation Smile for over five years and each year the incredible organization manages to teach, inspire, and motivate me by strengthening my passion for making a difference in the world. After participating in Operation Smile's Final Mile for 6 years in a row, I joined the Norfolk Academy "Happy Club" in the 8th grade. I attended the International Student Leadership Conference in the summer of 2013 and became determined to become more involved with the organization.
Before I knew it I was on my way to Zhengzhou China on April 8,2014. I knew I was going on my mission to change lives, but I didn't know that each and every one of the 116 patients would, also, change forever my life. Dr. Bill Magee, co-founder of Operation Smile, says, "They may never remember your name, but they will never forget your kindness." It seems ambitious to want to change the world, but what if you could? What if you were capable of changing one life forever? Wouldn't that make all the difference in the world for that one child?
Operation Smile taught me that no matter how young you are, you are never too young to make a difference. I love Operation Smile because it has a mission of involving students in their work and teaching them to be better global citizens. Student volunteers on missions are not just there to observe, we are there to act and to make a difference and to change lives. We educate the families on 5 different health care modules, take on the role of the child life specialists pre and post surgery, and visit schools and orphanages in the host city and educate the students.
My mission was the most amazing and eyeopening experience. I think about the patients everyday and am constantly wondering how their surgery changed forever their life. I came home from my mission determined to share with my community the incredible work of Operation Smile, for I have witnessed it first hand.
Once I returned, I applied to be a part of the Executive Leadership Council for Operation Smile, and this year as a member of the ELC, my job is to work with Student Programs on a local and national level by spreading awareness and getting more schools, students and clubs involved around the country. We strive to implement new service, fundraising and awareness activities to encourage new clubs.
This year I have decided to take on a fundraising project, known as "SUP 4 Smiles", which will be a fundraising event held in Virginia Beach, Virginia. SUP 4 Smiles will be an all day event at the 64th street beach at First Landing State Park. The event will begin at 9 AM and will go until 3 PM on May 16, 2015. There will be a variety of activities throughout the day to include: two YOGA/SUP classes in the morning, multiple paddle outs, a few SUP races, kadima tournaments, raffles, and more!
In order to signup for the event please visit the register page to signup for specific events. There will be a limited amount of spots for each "SUP" activity (to include yoga, paddle out, and race) because we have a limited amount of paddle boards.
We are always looking for Smile Sponsors to help us fundraise for the event. If you are willing to sponsor the event by sponsoring catering, activities, paddle boards, raffle items, etc please visit the sponsor page AND email me at austinhaycox@gmail.com
This event has great potential to be very successful! The goal for the event is to raise 24,000+, or over 100 surgeries! In order to acommplish this goal, I need YOUR help! You can help make a difference in the lives of hundreds of children all around the world. Your donation can truly change forever a life by giving them hope for the future. Children battling life with a cleft are unable to speak, eat, and drink properly. Oftentimes, they are shunned from their local community and ridiculed by their peers. Join me in transforming the lives of innocent children. If you are willing to sponsor smiles please contribute directly to the Operation Smile website through this fundraising page or by arranging an alternate way with me. You may contact me by email: austinhaycox@gmail.com
Thank you in advance for supporting me and SUP 4 Smiles!
-Austin Haycox
Together, We Can Change Lives
Operation Smile mobilizes a world of generous hearts to heal children’s smiles and transform lives across the globe. Operation Smile’s network of volunteers works worldwide to repair childhood facial deformities including cleft lips and cleft palates.
I hope you'll help me bring hope and new smiles to children suffering from facial deformities.
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