Not for Profit
Published: July 16, 2024 | Updated: 16th July 2024
Æliana, a 9-year-old from Winchester, Hampshire, has raised £5000 for various charities. Her latest effort was for Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused charity, where she raised an impressive £750.
Smile Train empowers local medical professionals by providing training, funding, and resources for free cleft surgery and comprehensive care for children globally.
Æliana was inspired to support Smile Train after watching a TV program about children with untreated clefts.
She learned that surgery is not readily available for all children in certain countries, and that clefts can cause challenges with breathing, eating, hearing, and speaking.
This inspired her to raise money as part of her school’s ‘Community Flourish Award’ at St Swithuns School in Winchester.
To support Smile Train, Æliana organised an 800-meter swim and, along with her friend Willow, a fundraiser event called Bake and Bloom.
At the event, guests enjoyed a variety of delicious cakes, including Mango and Passion Fruit, Lemon Drizzle, Chocolate Brownies, and her favourite, Pistachio Courgette cake. Willow helped by arranging and selling beautiful bouquets of wildflowers.
Besides raising awareness for Smile Train, the event successfully brought together family and friends, raising an impressive £770, which might be matched by Æliana’s dad’s company, potentially doubling the total to over £1,500.
“When we reached £750, I was really happy,” Æliana said. “At the bake sale, one of my friends, Lizzie, came with her whole family and bought a lot of cakes. Lots of people from the French Families Group came as well, and at one point, we were all speaking French – so that was really fun. But the best part was getting lots of money for Smile Train.”
Æliana’s mum, Janeen, added: “As parents, we are very proud of her, and she is still only 9!”
Looking ahead, Æliana is setting a £5000 fundraising goal for her next charity event in Year 6, her last year in school before starting senior school.
