Jessica Bailey said she could have just asked people for donations in support of Operation Smile, but she wanted to make the initiative 鈥渁 really fun time鈥� that would educate people about the campaign to help children with cleft palates in poor countries.
So Bailey, who plays on the at Trinity Western University in 91原创, came up with a 鈥楢 Spike For A Smile鈥� grass volleyball tournament.
, which supports Operation Smile, the nonprofit medical service organization which performs cleft palate and cleft lip surgeries for children around the world.
鈥淚t鈥檚 such a simple surgery that these children are given,鈥� Bailey said.
鈥淎nd it changes their life.鈥�
The day-long Sunday (Aug. 20) tournament at Willoughby Park near the 91原创 Events Centre raised $700 for Operation Smile, with four-person coed teams that had whimsical names like 鈥淒igs and giggles,鈥� the one that Bailey played on, 鈥淪ub-par鈥� and the eventual winners, 鈥淲e shall not be named.鈥�
There was a table with posters and pamphlets and other information about the efforts of Operation Smile.
鈥淚t went off without a hitch,鈥� a pleased Bailey said.
The 19-year-old 91原创 resident is one of 72 national finalists 鈥� one of six from B.C. 鈥� who will vie for the title of Miss Universe Canada at a competition that runs Sept. 30 to Oct. 8.
The winner of the Miss Universe Canada contest will represent the country in the Miss Universe 2017 competition.
was founded in 1982 by a married couple, a plastic surgeon and nurse, after they traveled to the Philippines with a group of medical volunteers to repair children鈥檚 cleft lips and cleft palates.
It has provided more than 200,000 free surgeries for children and young adults with facial deformities.
