The proceeds of the 2022 PONDO Trail Run, hosted by adventure operator Wild Child Africa, were recently used for corrective surgery to put smiles on the faces of 22 children with cleft lips or palates.
Participants of the one-day Coaster run and the three-day Ultra event on the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast raised a total of R140 000, with funds being donated to the Cipla Foundation’s Miles for Smiles initiative and The Pondoland Conservation Trust. This is part of Wild Child Africa’s Pondo-People-Planet initiative.
The first group of children successfully underwent their corrective surgeries in Umtata.
“There are 22 new and beautiful smiles in Pondoland thanks to this remarkable team effort. It was an emotional experience and a privilege to be there, not only to witness these life-changing surgeries, but also to see our dream of providing sustainable, low-impact tourism that has a direct benefit to the local communities come into fruition,” said Tim Botha of Wild Child Africa.
Cipla Foundation trustee, Paul Miller, added: “The partnership with PONDO Trail Run will help to ensure that more children with a cleft lip or palate have access to the level of surgical care needed.”
The 2023 PONDO Trail Run takes place from May 25-28.
