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Kyra's Operation Smile Gap Year

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I am a recent graduate of Princess Anne High School where I first became involved in Operation Smile Student Programs.  As you may know, Operation Smile is a non-profit organization, founded locally in Norfolk, Virginia, that provides free surgery to children with facial deformities who lack access to medical care around the world.  A surgery costs about $240.00, takes approximately 45 minutes, and can change a child’s life forever.  Operation Smile currently has a presence in over 60 countries, including Ecuador, China, Kenya, the Philippines, and many more.  (For more information, I encourage you to visit the website at www.operationsmile.org, or watch this short video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLyMZmtdI0E)

My involvement with Operation Smile started through my high school club, which focuses on raising awareness and fundraising for surgeries.  From there, I attended several of Operation Smile’s International Student Leadership Conferences and had the amazing opportunity to participate on an Operation Smile medical mission to Lincang, China in the fall of 2014.  I also served on the National Leadership Council this past school year and as a Team Leader during ISLC in 2016.  My participation in Operation Smile has truly been life changing as it has inspired me to pursue medicine so I can return to the mission field as a plastic surgeon.

Towards the end of my junior year of high school, I decided to take a gap year so that I could volunteer in other countries that Operation Smile serves in before attending William and Mary.  During this next year, I will be traveling to the Philippines, Nepal, India, Thailand, South Africa, and Madagascar to work primarily in patient recruitment both before and after medical missions.  However, in order to make an impact in the lives of these children, I will need to raise money to participate on this gap year.
 
The total budget for this gap year is approximately $14,000. This cost includes travel expenses, lodging, meals, immunizations, and visa fees.  Suggested donations are $100, $250, $500, $750, and $1,000, but any donation, big or small, would be extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  My gap year will start in early September, but I will continue to raise funds throughout the year.  Please help me in making a difference by spreading smiles to children around the world.
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Donations 

  • Diane & Pat O'Connor
    • $100 
    • 7 yrs
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Organizer

Kyra Bain
Organizer
Virginia Beach, VA

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