Information for Students and Parents

Final Mile is about young people joining together to make a difference in their own lives, and in the lives of other children around the world born with cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.

Students ages 6 to 12 can participate in the Operation Smile Final Mile program. Final Mile participants run 25.2 miles before race day by running a few miles a week from January until race day. Students come together on March 16, 2013 to run their "final mile" to complete a marathon at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

Students can log miles in PE class, running club, or with friends and family after school. Participants can run, jog, skip or walk their miles — as long as they make sure they have fun when they do it!

YOU can go the extra mile and help other children receive new smiles by collecting donations for Operation Smile. You can help raise smiles by creating your own fundraising page and asking family and close friends to donate for each mile you run. Any amount raised will help give new smiles for children in need!

So come on, run for a great cause, get fit, and help someone else along the way!

To Get Started

Step 1

Register the student for the 2013 Shamrock Operation Smile Final Mile at shamrockmarathon.com. The registration fee is $20 through December 31. Starting January 1, the registration fee increases to $25, so be sure to register early!

Final Mile runners receive award coupons at the 5, 10, 15 and 20 mile markers. Participants also receive a race T-shirt, bag, and when they cross the finish line they even receive a medal!

Step 2

Once registered, students can start logging their miles in school, during PE class or running club, and at home. They can walk, skip, jog or run their way to 26.2 miles.

Step 3

Create your Final Mile fundraising page to help raise funds to provide free corrective surgery children in need. Students can help raise smiles by asking family and close friends to donate for each mile you run.

Step 4

Remember that age does not factor into a student's ability to make a difference. For the miles they run, children can collect donations for Operation Smile and see how their efforts, combined with those of their classmates, friends and family, can have a tremendous impact on the lives of others in need. Last year, Final Mile participants raised enough money to provide more than 250 children with life-changing surgeries.