Fun walk raises money for child surgery

The Operation Smile Student Association at IU will put on the Miles for Smiles Fun Walk to raise money for Operation Smile, a nationwide charity that funds facial reconstructive surgeries for children.

The walk will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Dunn Meadow. 

The event will include a mile-long walk with interactive games and snacks afterward, said senior and events coordinator Cheryl Steiman.

The Miles for Smiles Fun Walk is the first walk the group has planned since its formation three years ago, said junior Whitney Rittmann, vice president of the association. With this walk, the group hopes to establish a base for further years, she said.

“We’re excited about the walk because it’s our first big event,” said junior Nichole Shoup, president of the association. “We want it to get the word out on our organization.”

Though the event is geared toward children, the group would like to see students come out to help the cause, Steiman said.

“Anyone can come,” she said. “It’s not like you have to be this tall to come.”

Participants will be charged $10 to take part in the walk, Steiman said. Proceeds from the event will go directly to Operation Smile.

“Donations are appreciated,” she said. “We’re hoping some participants ... would like to go above the baseline price.”

Each facial surgery through Operation Smile is $240, Steiman said. The group hopes to raise enough money this year to donate 10 operations.

Rittmann said the group is trying to raise awareness not only on campus but also in the Bloomington community.

“We think the walk will be an opportunity for children of the community to learn about volunteering at an early age,” she said.

The group advertised for the event in restaurants, elementary schools and other places around Bloomington, Steiman said.

“We were walking around the Union posting things,” she said. “And they were just melting in with other fliers.”

Rittmann said she is optimistic for a decent turnout and hopes many of the members of the organization will participate.

There are roughly 200 to 300 members in the organization, Shoup said, but only 100 have been active throughout the organization’s existence.

The first 100 participants to come to the walk will receive free T-shirts, Steiman said.
“We’d like to say 100 people will come,” she said. “But I couldn’t even begin to guess the number. I’m a little nervous about the rain, but I know the Bloomington community really supports organizations like ours.”