Annual Cleft Palate Gallop 5K Raises More Than $5,000 for UNC Craniofacial Center

Miles for Smiles, one of our school’s student organizations, sponsored its fourth annual Cleft Palate Gallop 5K on Saturday, September 24 where they raised over $5,000 to benefit the UNC Craniofacial Center (UNCCFC).

Approximately 260 participants joined the activities that Saturday. The 5K began at the iconic Old Well in McCorkle Place and ended at Bynum Circle, where the top three male and female runners were awarded prizes. A family fun walk was also offered, and additional prizes were raffled off to participants after the race ended.

The more than $5,000 raised for UNCCFC will help the center continue to provide its multidisciplinary and comprehensive care for patients with cleft lip, cleft palate and other craniofacial anomalies. UNCCFC treats patients through the expertise of faculty and staff members in a wide range of professional fields, including audiology, dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, speech pathology, social work and others.

“We’re so glad to be able to hold this event each year to benefit UNC’s exceptional craniofacial center,” said Summer Caldwell, Miles for Smiles president and third-year dental student. “It’s overwhelming each year to see members of the community – including UNCCFC faculty, staff and patients – to help provide financially for those who need care and whose families are not able to meet the financial demands of their condition.”