Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity, invites everyone to share the gift of smiles this holiday season. Visual artist Riz Cabrera has partnered with Smile Train to raise awareness for children born with a cleft through the launch of her online art auction which she hopes can contribute to sustaining Smile Train’s goal to provide children the urgent support and care needed.
Every day, 540 babies are born around the world with this serious health condition that prevents them not only from smiling, but also poses difficulties in eating, breathing and speaking. Through the auction, Cabrera hopes to help fund the surgeries and therapies that could transform the lives of Filipino cleft patients.
“When I came across the Smile Train website, I was deeply moved by their advocacy. While I initially wanted to just be a channel of blessings for the patients, my goal was to raise awareness for this generation, specifically to those dealing with mental health issues just like myself,” shared Cabrera.
“Although we all have our own personal problems and trials, if we would just look beyond ourselves, we can still be a message of hope to somebody. I believe that focusing on helping other people is therapy itself and partnering with Smile Train rekindles hope within me,” she added.
Visit 32auctions.com/smile2020 to view the artworks. It runs until Dec. 24. Donations are also accepted on the site. Follow @carizzze on Facebook and Instagram.
