Gran Fondo New York names Operation Smile as Official Charity

Nov. 27, 2012 - PRLog -- Gran Fondo New York named Operation Smile, the international children’s medical charity, as the official charity partner for their 2013 cycling event. On May 19, approximately 7,000 athletes from over 70 countries will take on the challenging 110-mile ride, while giving back to children who desperately need our help.

This year marks the 3rd annual Gran Fondo New York, an event that brings Italian cycling culture to New York City. The event departs from the George Washington Bridge in New York City, travels north along the Hudson River, turns back around at its highest peak atop Bear Mountain and finishes in Weehawken, New Jersey with an incredible view of the Manhattan skyline. All participants are invited to ride in support of Operation Smile and raise funds and awareness to make life-changing surgeries possible. This can be done with the simple step of donating during registration and/or starting your own One Smile Page, where friends, family and coworkers can easily donate online in support of the cause.

Operation Smile’s medical volunteers provide free surgery for children all over the world who suffer from cleft and other life-threatening facial deformities. Every three minutes, a child is born with a cleft. One in 10 of those children will die before their first birthday. In as few as 45 minutes and for as little as $240, a surgery can change a child’s life forever.

To show appreciation for the cyclists’ support, Operation Smile is offering benefits based on each cyclist’s fundraising participation. Operation Smile will enhance the race experience for riders who raise $1,000 and above with experiential incentives including a VIP starting position, an invitation to the pre-ride VIP Gran Fondo and Operation Smile Private Event , and/or an invitation to the Operation Smile VIP post-ride celebration. The top three fundraisers will be called to the GFNY winner's podium and the top fundraiser will be awarded the GFNY Champion's jersey.

Register for Gran Fondo New York at www.granfondony.eventbrite.com. Riders can fundraise before, after and during the event. To set a fundraising goal, visit  . Together with Operation Smile, Gran Fondo New York cyclists are turning their miles into smiles.

For updates about Gran Fondo New York, visit the event’s website at www.granfondony.com, follow @granfondony on Twitter, watch latest video clips on www.youtube.com/granfondony, and talk with other participants on www.facebook.com/granfondony.


About Gran Fondo New York (www.granfondony.com)

Gran Fondo New York brings Italian cycling culture to the world's greatest city. On May 19, 2013, 7000 cyclists from over 70 countries and 48 states will take on a challenging 110-mile route from NYC to Bear Mountain and back to compete against each other, the clock and themselves in a personal and physical test of endurance. Gran Fondo racing stems from Italy, where these amateur cycling races take place nearly every weekend throughout Italy giving the cyclists a chance to test and prove themselves on two wheels. Be ready to take on New York.

About Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org)

Operation Smile, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, is an international children’s medical charity with a presence in more than 60 countries, whose network of more than 5,000 medical volunteers from over 80 countries is dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children. Since its founding in 1982, Operation Smile has provided more than 3.5 million healthcare evaluations and conducted over 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities, as well as patients suffering from burns. To build long-term self-sufficiency in developing countries, Operation Smile trains doctors and local medical professionals in its partner countries so they are empowered to treat their own local communities, donates medical equipment and supplies, provides year-round medical treatment through Comprehensive Care Centers. Visit www.operationsmile.org, follow @OperationSmile on Twitter, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/operationsmile for more information on Operation Smile’s global efforts.