Ridgefield Walks a Mile for a Smile!

“Mile For A Smile” Fundraising/Awareness Walk For SmileTrain A Success

The fundraising/awareness walk for SmileTrain, “Mile For A Smile” hosted by Steven Christofor and his daughter, Isabel Christofor, was a great success. The walk was held on Sunday October 26^th with over 30 people participating. The walk started at 11am in front of The Toy Chest located in downtown Ridgefield and went to The Cass Gilbert Fountain and returned to Planet Pizza, with Planet Pizza serving pizza to all those who walked.

SmileTrain is an organization that provides free surgery for children around the world affected by cleft. Children born with cleft cannot eat or speak properly, aren't allowed to attend school or hold a job and face very difficult lives of shame and isolation, pain and heartache. Some children are even abandoned—all because of the way they look. Their clefts usually go untreated because they are too poor to afford the simple repair surgery that takes as little as 45 minutes and costs as little as $250 dollars.

Steven and Isabel worked on their “Mile For A Smile” event throughout September and October, organizing, making and handing out flyers to the local businesses in downtown Ridgefield, passing out flyers to their neighbors, contacting local press and also fundraising at the local Stop and Shop. Their goal was to raise $1,250 which would help 5 children born with cleft, but with the many generous donations received, they raised $1,985.00, surpassing their fundraising goal. More than 7 children will receive the free surgery that will transform their lives – the before and after results being truly amazing.

The people who participated in the walk were: Ann Lathrop from The Toy Chest, Domenick Farago, Philip Drogalis and Rolando Minarcajo from Planet Pizza, Cara Christofor, Don Kelliher, Emma Joyce, Steven Vaum, Meredith, John, Mackenzie, Hadey and Adam Robson, Katie Kefaer, Jennifer and Jack Carroll, Marina Amorum, Kim Corenz, Cindy Cody, Debbie Teal and  Jennifer Quesenberry from Ridgefield Perfect Smile Center, Jeff Richards, Christine Hollings, Sophia Ginsberg, Max Ginsberg, Chris, Louisa and Timothy Orlow, Janell Breck, Carl Glissmann and Kelly Tobin .

Flyers were donated by The UPS Store in Ridgefield and Squash's Office Supply. Additional donations were made by Glass Guys Of Ridgefield, Touch Of Sedona, Trillium Architects, Ridgefield Perfect Smile Center, Turkey Ridge, Shine Salonspa, Planet Pizza, Jeff Kaplan, Wendy Webber, Bob DAprile, Tina Papa, Carl Glissmann, Chris, Louisa and Timothy Orlow, Meredith and John Robson and Robert, Audrey and Kelly Tobin.

For more information on SmileTrain please visit: www.smiletrain.org