Miles for Smiles

In 2006 Cipla launched the Cipla Miles for Smiles Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises funds for corrective surgery for children born with cleft lips and /or cleft palates. The foundation was also formed to assist Operation Smile in creating awareness for the plight of these children.

In the developing world, one in every 750 children is born with a facial deformity. Without the financial resources or access to corrective surgery, these children face myriad problems, from difficulty in eating, ear disease, dental problems and problematic speech development. In addition, they are subjected to a life of disfigurement, humiliation, ridicule and emotional pain. At Cipla we are committed to make the lives of these children better.

To date we have helped heal 850 children. The impact is felt not just through the children we heal but also their families.

The Miles for Smiles foundation also has a fundamental aim, to inspire and challenge individuals to go out and make a difference in the lives of those around them, by challenging themselves to achieve the impossible and by doing so make a difference. Read more www.milesforsmiles.co.za

Great Wall of Chine Challenge 2006

Extreme athletes David Grier (49) and Braam Malherbe (50) and made history by running the entire length of the Great Wall of China in one attempt, approximately 4000 km.

It was deemed humanly impossible but in December 2006 David and Braam managed to complete an astounding 98 marathons in 98 days!

R550 000 was raised which funded Operation Smile's first mission to SA in August 2006 where 55 children received corrective surgery in Empangeni Kwazulu-Natal

Southern African Coastal Challenge 2008

Another never-been-done-before extreme event for David and Braam. In 2008 they ran the curve of a smile around the tip of Africa, a total of 3 500 km - a marathon a day for 80 days. They ran from Oranjemund (in Namibia) via Cape Town (in South Africa) finished in Ponta D'Oro (Mozambique).

Madagascar Challenge 2008

This challenge was to paddle from Africa to Madagascar and then traverse the length of Madagascar on foot.

What separated this challenge from the previous two challenges was that David Grier undertook this challenge by himself.

"I decided on a multi discipline event as I wanted to involve aspects that would challenge me in a different way. The ocean has always played a massive part in my life from a young age; it's intrigued me, yet terrified me and has my utmost respect. By including the paddle, I felt this would be my most difficult challenge yet as paddling is a relatively new sport to me - I had to dig really deep."

The challenge commenced in the midst of the annual monsoon season in December 2010. David paddled the 500km from Mozambique to Madagascar in 11 days.

After continuous rain, the island was now not much drier than the ocean and Grier's mammoth run attempt was now challenged by much flooding, infrequent drinkable water and vast stretches of uninhabited mountains and jungle.

Running at a pace of a marathon a day for 66 days and 2700 km; Grier finally reached Cape D'Ambre; the northern most point of Madagascar and the end of his epic journey. Riddled with Bilharzia, Dengue fever and an intestinal infection and weighing only 68 kg's Grier admitted this was his hardest challenge to date.

On returning to Madagascar 6 months after the event; David and his family were invited members of the Operation Smile Madagascar surgical mission where almost 200 children received their God given right to a smile. Says Grier; "What a privilege it is to be part of this foundation and to see the difference it makes."