VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (PRWEB)
June 29, 2023

At Operation Smile, individuals can choose to volunteer and get involved with its mission in myriad ways. The most notable form of volunteerism takes place during surgical programs where medical professionals from all over the world take time away from their busy lives and practices and participate in Operation Smile medical and surgical programs in low-and-middle income communities providing support to the local teams, trainings, safe surgery and comprehensive cleft care in communities with limited access to health care and resources. However, this form of volunteerism is also supported and celebrated by other volunteers who work to educate, spread awareness, and raise funds for Operation Smile.

Some volunteers even find creative and unconventional ways to support the organization, like Dan Meyer, a South African native who has taken fundraising to a new level by merging his passion for cycling with his love of helping others. After the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic settled in, Dan was feeling aimless so at the beginning of 2022, he purchased a bicycle and began training to embark on a 3500-kilometer journey through Europe. This journey, dubbed Smile Cycle began in Copenhagen Denmark, and ended in Rome, Italy, taking seven whole weeks to complete.

“It was obviously quite a difficult time for everybody, and I wanted to go and I wanted to bring some positive change,” Dan remarked when asked why he started his Smile Cycle journey. “I wanted to test myself and do something I’ve never done before. I wanted to do something outside of myself to improve my own life, the lives of the people around me, and the lives of the patients that Operation Smile helps.”

At the end of his journey, Dan raised R134 000 ($7,176.62 USD) which transformed the lives of more than 20 patients through surgery, giving them the gift of a new smile and better access to care. When Dan returned home to South Africa last year, he visited an Operation Smile Surgical Program in Mpumalanga and had the privilege of witnessing the impact of the life-changing surgeries he just spent weeks supporting. The overwhelming hope and inspiration he experienced during his visit to Operation Smile South Africa encouraged Dan to embark on another harrowing cycling journey in support of the global nonprofit. This time, Dan will be traveling the entire Pacific coast of the United States, starting at the Canadian border, and ending in Mexico.

“What an amazing experience,” Dan said when reflecting upon his time at Operation Smile South Africa. “You get to meet the kids who without Operation Smile’s help would never be able to live a normal life. And what Operation Smile brings to them and what people like you and I can do to help is changing a life that is so tangible, their changes are so drastic, and it changes not only their child’s life but the lives of the family and their school and their community. The amount of help that this charity does in the community is absolutely amazing.”

Dan commenced his North American Smile Cycle on June 21st, 2023, and is currently traversing through Oregon on the second stage out of five in this 4500-kilometer expedition. These Smile Cycle adventures are a true test of willpower and endurance. What was supposed to begin as a 500-kilometer jaunt transitioned into a multi-week undertaking when Dan met David Grier, an endurance athlete who has run over 25,000 kilometers across the globe to raise money and spread awareness for Operation Smile. David instilled confidence in Dan and encouraged him to push his limits as an athlete and extend his commitment.

These extreme adventures are tough on the mind, body, and spirit, but most importantly, they serve as a testament to the lengths a passionate individual is willing to go in support of those in need. Dan is also representative of all the outstanding dedicated volunteers that work with Operation Smile all over the globe to help fulfill their belief that all children deserve access to high-quality health care and safe surgery.

“For me, I am not a doctor, and I am not a nurse, and I can’t really do anything physically to help but I can ride a bicycle and I can go on an adventure and that’s exactly what I did last year and that’s what I am going to do again this year,” said Dan. “I look forward to the feedback I get later on in the year about all the incredible things the organization has done and the amount of change they’ve been able to make. I bet there are going to be a lot of flat tires along the way, probably a few tears as well. But the feeling of accomplishment you get from doing something like that is unmatchable.”

You can follow Dan’s journey on his Instagram @dan.has.a.plan and donate to his Smile Cycle fundraiser at https://operationsmile.org.za/smile-cycle/#donate-dan

To start your own Operation Smile fundraiser, visit this website: https://bit.ly/3Jwvme3

About Operation Smile

Operation Smile is a global nonprofit specializing in expert cleft surgery and care. Over the last 40 years, we have provided medical expertise, research, and care through our dedicated staff and medical and student volunteers around the world, working alongside local governments, nonprofits, and health systems, and supported by our generous donors. Learn more at https://www.operationsmile.org/ or by following @operationsmile on social media.

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