By LIZZY GORDON
As students from Boone High School, Timber Creek and East River walked around the 200 building on Oct. 5, a smile stretched across junior Kristen Dugan’s face. A sea of 48 participants wore shirts that read “Operation Smile Walk-A-Thon.”
With 48 students participating and contributing $15 each, Dugan, who organized the event, helped raise roughly $720. Participants received a t-shirt, a water bottle and two hours of community service if they walked during the designated time, 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Due to the rain, the walk moved indoors to the 200 building.
“[Seeing everyone at the walk] was really touching. Many people came out even though it was raining. I was proud of all the Boone students that came out to support the cause,” Dugan said.
Profits benefited Operation Smile, an organization that sponsor surgeries for impoverished people living in third world countries who have a cleft palate.
When Dr.Bill Magee and his wife Kathy Magee served as medical volunteers in the Philippines in 1982, they witnessed the majority of people seeking help being turned away; they saw a need and as a result founded Operation Smile.
“I attended the walk-a-thon because I knew that coming together with friends and joining in this cause would be fun and meaningful. I knew that by doing something as small as this, I could do something profound and make a difference in a child’s life,” senior Trent Sellers, participant, said.
If students are interested in hosting a walk-a-thon themselves, or getting involved with the organization visit Operation Smiles website: http://www.operationsmile.org/get_involved/.
23 of the 48 students at the walkathon were from the Key Club of Timber Creek High School, contributing $230 to Operation Smile.