Hey friends!! From June 1-June 3, Paige and I will be running the 48-hour Ozone Endurance Challenge in Rockwood, TN to raise awareness and donations for the Non-profit organization Partner for Surgery. Specifically, we will direct the effort towards their Targeted Infant Nutrition Program. Please read the info below to learn more and thank you for your support!! ❤ ❤ RAFFLE PRIZE INFO: All donations are 100% tax deductible and you will receive an email receipt immediately upon donating. For every $10 increment you donate, you will receive one entry into the big pot for all three prize drawings (Amazon gift cards and a pair of running shoes)! In addition to your donation, if you "like" our post and share it using the hashtag #runalottaforguatemala, you will receive an additional entry in the drawings. ❤ ❤ ABOUT PARTNER FOR SURGERY: As many as 20,400 infants are born with cleft lip/palate each year in Guatemala. While easily treatable in rich countries, cleft lip/palate often has tragic consequences for the desperately poor Guatemalans we serve. Cleft infants are unable to breastfeed and their parents cannot afford formula. In desperation, parents try feeding them various liquids with a spoon, but usually the child cannot receive adequate nourishment. This tragic situation inspired Partner for Surgery’s Targeted Infant Nutrition Program (TINP). When a cleft infant is born, our trained rural midwife informs the local Health Promoter. The infant is brought to the nearest health center as soon as possible and evaluated, weighed and registered in the health system. The mother then receives either a breast pump or donated formula (if no longer producing milk), special nursing bottles, and detailed instructions. Without the intervention of TINP, these children are likely to die of starvation. While the initial goal of the program is simply to keep the infant alive, ultimately, the goal is to help the infant gain weight and be strong enough to undergo surgery. Health Promoters see each child at least once per month and monitor their weight gain. Within about a year, the child will be ready for surgery. The Health Promoter accompanies the patient and a member of the family, to provide interpretation services and emotional support. Learn more about the program here: http://partnerforsurgery.org/how-we-help/infant-nutrition-program/