IN AS LITTLE as 60 minutes, cleft lip surgery can change a child’s life forever and bring the first beautiful smile to the face of not just the young patient but also his or her entire family.

Smiles are regularly brought to the faces of kids and families across Thailand as well as other countries across the globe thanks to the efforts of Operation Smile, an international children’s medical charity that provides free life-changing surgeries for children with cleft lip, cleft palate and other facial deformities.

But while the medical teams give their services for free, the cost of the operations has to be covered and to carry on their work in Thailand alone, the organisation needs a minimum of Bt40 million a year.

That’s why this Saturday, Operation Smile Thailand, Smile Club students from 11 international schools and volunteers are taking part in Colour Miles for Smiles 2016. The evening charity fun run (or walk) dubbed the “Neon Edition” is taking place in Lumpini Park with vivid and vibrant surprises awaiting at every one kilometre stage and a neon rainbow at the finish as multi-coloured luminescent powders shower participants in celebration. The family-friendly fun run has become a “smilestone” event on the calendar since it was first held in 2013. Last year, the coloured run charity event saw more than 3,000 runners take part and raised Bt3 million.

Approximately one in every 700 babies in Thailand is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate, lower than the global average of 1 in 500 but still high. The operation cost in Thailand is around Bt25,000 per person, says Jintakan Sricholwattana, a Smile ambassador and the foundation’s strategic development director.

“Since our establishment in Thailand 19 years ago, Operation Smile volunteers have treated more than 7,000 children,” she says.

Operation Smile was founded in 1982 by William Magee on his return to the US after a trip to the Philippines with his wife Kathy. Shocked at the number of children and adults with cleft lips, they appealed to surgeons to volunteer their services to help underprivileged individuals at no cost. Today, Operation Smile has a presence in more than 60 countries and its services have expanded to include training.

“We average about 1,000 cases per year depending on the funds we are able to raise. Most patients come from poor families in rural Thailand and while the operation is free, they find themselves out of pocket because of their travel expenses, the loss of wages and accommodation. We provide them with extra money to use during the operation period as well as for follow-up speech therapy and health checks,” Jintakan says.

“Untreated cleft lip and cleft palate patients often have difficulty breathing, drinking, eating and speaking. As a result, many suffer from malnutrition as well as medical and psychological problems. These children are usually unable to successfully breastfeed or bottle feed. According to the statistics gathered by the Public Health Ministry, about 2,000 Thai children a year are born with cleft lips and/or cleft palates,” she says, adding that the numbers do not include the hilltribes and refugee populations in Thailand.

“And one out of five dies before reaching the age of one due to chronic ear infections and breathing problems followed by complications such as pneumonia.”

Children born with these deformities often hide away from the world because of the stigma and isolation they bring, their self-esteem shattered. In Thailand, there are countless numbers of cleft children living their lives untreated.

“Many people believe it is their karma. Two years ago, we were approached by a 70-year-old patient. We asked her why she wanted the surgery and pointed out that it would hurt. She said she didn’t want to die with her mouth like this.”

The exact cause of the deformity is unknown. These birth defects happen early, during the first three months of pregnancy and genetic and environmental influences such as maternal illness, malnutrition or drug usage increase the incidence.

Thanks to the tireless devotion of medical volunteers, non-medical volunteers and staff, Operation Smile is undertaking three rounds of treatment in 2016. The first was held in February in Mae Hong Son province, the second is slated for May in Yasothon province, and the last in November in Mae Sot, Tak province.

“We do not change the dates and timings for our operation camps mainly because of the time and effort needed to get the message across. That’s mainly done by word of mouth and involves the rural health care centres and local non-government organisations. Last year, we met another teardrop case at the Mae Sot camp. A hill tribe father came all the way on foot with nine children, all of them with cleft lips and cleft palates. We were initially surprised to see so many kids from the same family with the problem but he explained that he was representing other families in his community because it would have been too costly for everyone to come. This is a clear reflection of the needs,” Jintakan says.

“Another problem we face is space. Every time we organise the surgical camp, many people come with lots of luggage, which takes up the already overcrowded space we have. Looking inside the bags, I discovered just a few old clothes and odds and ends but they told me these were their only assets. They are so poor, it’s heartbreaking,” she adds.

“All we can ask is that they don’t keep the children suffering from cleft lips and cleft palates hidden away at home. These kids are losing any hope of a future.”

PepsiCo Services Asia, is one of the major sponsors of the fund-raising charity run.

“Taking part in Operation Smile for this third consecutive year answers at least two pillars of our company’s mission, namely human and talent sustainability,” says Charonchai Salyapong, head of the company’s corporate affairs.

“It’s important we all come together in supporting this ultimate life-changing opportunity and offer a helping hand to our children and the future of our society.”

EVENING GLOW

– Colour Miles for Smiles is on Saturday in Lumpini Park in Bangkok. Registration starts at 3.30pm with runners getting underway at 5.30. Tickets are Bt800 and include the T-shirt, plus games, food and drinks. Apply at http://goo.gl/XVVQQG.

– You can also donate directly to the Operation Smile Foundation. Donations are tax-deductible. Here are the accounts:

– Bangkok Bank, Aree Branch, Account no 127-435422-2 (SWIFT: BKKBTHBK)

– Siam Commercial Bank, Ploenchit Branch, Account no 059-285134-9, SWIFT: SICOTHBK

– Krungsri Bank, Ploenchit Tower Branch, Account no 285-135204-6, SWIFT: AYUDTHBK

– Krungthai Bank, Ploenchit Metropolitan Electricity Branch, Account no. 092-013280-4, SWIFT: KRTHTHBK

– For more details, call (02) 014 4530-1, e-mail thailand@operationsmile.org or visit Facebook.com/OperationSmileThailand.