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Whilst
watching a TV documentary about 'Operation Smile', we were both moved to tears
and felt compelled to take action. We have therefore decided to adopt Operation
Smile as our 'Charity of the year'. This was launched at our 1 Year Party
on 14 July 2007.
You
can read much more about Operation Smile on their web site : - www.operationsmile.org.uk
but here are some of the basic facts. 
1. Operation Smile was founded by leading plastic & craniofacial surgeon, William Magee, and his wife, in 1982
2. Each year they organise more than 30 'mission trips' to at least 25 countries in underpriveledged parts of the world, and co-ordinate expert surgeons (who offer their time and services for free) to carry out life changing surgery on children and young people with facial deformities.
3. This surgery, carried out routinely in the West, involves operations on cleft pallets and lips and other facial deformities. In many cases, children are ridiculed and thought of as being cursed if they are born with such deformities. Their lives are often not worth living because of the abuse they receive.
4. Operation Smile literally puts a smile on the faces of children and families, who could never afford such an operation. There are many testimonies on their web site so do check them out. Here is just one story.
"Sut"
means split lip and is a terrible name for a child. But for the first nine
years of my life, that's what I was called by everyone in the village. Every
day, the cleft lip I was born with caused me pain and humiliation. On my first
day of school, the other children taunted me so mercilessly because of my
disfigured mouth that I refused to go back. It seemed that my whole life would
be ruined by this curse.
Then, Operation
Smile came along. During the mission to Vung Tau, Vietnam, I received a new
smile, new friends, and reclaimed my birth name, Thanh, which means, "Blue
Sky." Now, the sky's the limit for me. I have returned to school and
to life, and the future is filled with sunshine.
Sadly however, many children have to be turned away, which is heart breaking for the surgeons and the families concerned. Each operation costs about £150 and our target is to help 5 childen over the next year. As soon as we have collected £150 we will send this money on to the charity. Would you like to be a part of this?
HOW TO DONATE
1. At each gig there will be an opportunity to give a donation, so do come prepared.
2. Buy a Serendipity CD! (16 of the songs Serendipity play live). CD is ready now! More Info HERE
We
are only asking for a donation of £5 (plus £1 for postage and packing) for the
CD. And £1.50 will go to Operation Smile! (Feel free to give more if you
want - it's well worth it!
Pay by 
: -
3. Be creative! A friend has decided to skip a few coffees in the morning and donate the £1.49 she normally spends to Operation Smile! If you are a business, we will give you a free link on our web site for a month for any donation received!
Thanks for your time, consideration and help with this. Please see the graph below to check our progress throughout the year.
Best wishes
Stuart
& Lyn
July 2007
