SAC club reaches out to support Operation Smile

St. Andrew's students who joined the Operation Smile Club held their first meeting in October with the aim of raising funds to help deliver cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries to children in need.

Operation Smile Canada provides free cleft surgery for children. With help from donors, medical volunteers, and corporate partners, the medical charity transforms lives with surgeries that can take as little as 45 minutes and cost as little as $240.

According to team captain, William Wu, in Grade 10, the St. Andrew's participants believe it should be a right for everyone in the world to have proper and clean dental care. One in every 1,600 children in the world is born with cleft lip and needs surgery. Operation Smile gives dental care to underprivileged countries that often cannot afford procedures and surgeries.

"To us, it is a personal cause because we think that it is a small contribution from us, but it means a huge difference for these people's lives," William says.

The Operation Smile Edsby group has nearly 50 members this year, with a core of 10 to 15 students actively working to secure donations. William says the club intended to raise enough funds to provide surgeries for ten children and set the goal at $2,400. Although they have exceeded that goal, William says they would like to provide even more of these life-changing surgeries.

"We have gotten donations through an online email campaign, and we are definitely looking for more donations if possible," William says. Please click here if you can help.
 
Students interested in getting involved in the planning and behind-the-scenes work can contact William through First Class.