Former News Reporter, Gloria Madera, CleftStrong Founder, Chelsea Ortiz and son Richie Ortiz talk about their journey of raising awareness for cleft and craniofacial conditions and for the 2022 CleftStrong 5k and Kids Run Run Event!

CleftStrong sends its sincere appreciation to News 4 San Antonio and Fox 29 San Antonio for spreading awareness for the 9th annual CleftStrong 5k and its mission.  Learn more about ways you can get involved, how this race got its start and more about this year's race here. ​

We hope this makes you smile, Jack.  You and your team are impacting the stories that our future generations will tell one day.  Thank you for supporting in ways that keep on giving!

We put together team Jack Attack to show support for our youngest son, Jack, who was born with a complete unilateral cleft lip and palate. When we discovered that Jack would have a cleft at his 20 week ultrasound, we were quite rattled. Clefts are not something that we, and most other parents in our area, have been very well educated on. The unknown was and still is very scary for us! I’m hoping by doing the CleftStrong 5K, we can directly contribute to raising awareness for cleft and craniofacial abnormalities in our community as well as throughout the US. 

Team Jack Attack will be participating virtually from Minnesota. Our team will gather at Jack’s house to run and/or walk the 5K route we have mapped out. Along with participating in the actual 5K, we will also be fundraising throughout the summer while spreading awareness! Crossing the finish line means a couple things for us, both symbolic and physical. Symbolically, it is us overcoming the hurdles that Jack will and has been facing as one united support group. Individually we are strong, but as a group we can accomplish anything! Physically, it is accomplishing a goal set out as a family to become healthier! 
We are SO excited to be participating in the CleftStrong 5K this year! 

With Love, 
Team Jack Attack

Every month, we will feature our leading fundraising team of individuals and their efforts to raise awareness and funds in support of creating a world where those born with  oral cleft and craniofacial conditions THRIVE.  Create your team or donate toward an existing fundraising team here!   Thank you for your support.

Thank you for joining the 8th annual CleftStrong 5k and helping us raise a little over $10,000.00!  Participants across the USA, along with those from Puerto Rico, Egypt and Canada this year united in support of their loved one and creating a world where those with oral clefts and craniofacial conditions thrive.  The annual CleftStrong 5k and Kids Fun Run event aims to promote strength and support of patients and their families during the medical journey and, just as importantly, the opportunity to spread healthy awareness and understanding for cleft lip, palate and other craniofacial conditions one step at a time!  All proceeds from this virtual event, will be directly donated to the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association in support of advancing oral and cleft/craniofacial research and patient care.  Thank you for joining us virtually - from your very own place in this world - to make a lasting impact in the world!

What a run!! Congratulations to our Overall top Male Finisher: Gabriel Medellin from Texas finishing at 31:00 and our Overall Top Female Finisher: Ulrike from Egypt finishing at 33:00. We send a heartfelt thank you and Congratulations to  Riley's Runners for coming in as our highest fundraising team winner and Team Alamo Group who came in as our largest team winner!  Thank you for helping us support a world where those with cleft and craniofacial conditions THRIVE!

The CleftStrong 5k and Kids Fun Run takes place annually during October!  We are back live in 2022! To receive future race and registration details, sign up here!

If you would like to sponsor the event or partner with us, please email us here. 

Do you have a special photo from this year's race in honor of your loved one?  Please submit it here as your permission to share.  We'd love to!!

We send a heartfelt  thank you to News Reporter, Gloria Ogletree, News 4 San Antonio and Fox 29 San Antonio for spreading awareness for the 8th annual CleftStrong 5k and its mission.  Learn more about ways you can get involved, how this race got its start and more about this year's race here. 

 Many thanks to all for joining the 2020 CleftStrong 5k and Kids Fun Run virtual event!  Across the world, a little over 230 participants joined virtually to support those born with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial conditions this year!  Even amidst the new challenges that we are all facing, you made it possible to be together and support one another.  

We are excited to announce that together with sponsors and donors and virtual participants , we raised a little over $13,000.00 in support of the annual CleftStrong 5k and the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association's (ACPA) mission to advance cleft and craniofacial research and patient care!  Additionally, participants came together through the 2020 CleftStrong Silent Auction and other donors to support local cleft and craniofacial patients in need, raising approximately $1,725.00 to be donated directly to the ACPA approved Cleft and Craniofacial teams at The Children's Hospital of San Antonio and San Antonio's Methodist Children's Hospital in the coming weeks. The 2020 CleftStrong 5k raised a grand total of just over $14,700.00 in support of its mission.  Thank you!

Until next year, 
Ray and Chelsea Ortiz
Founders and Race Directors

​

Questions about registration this year?  Contact us here!

Great thanks to everyone who joined the 6th annual CleftStrong 5k presented by the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio! Our hearts are happy to announce that alongside hitting a registration record this year, a little over 500 people gathered Saturday, October 12, 2019 at Los Patios in San Antonio, Texas to support those born with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial conditions and celebrate amazing victories!  Additionally, CleftStrong Virtual Racers came together to hit an all time registration record with close to 40 participants joining the  mission throughout the country!  The same strong smiles and unique inspiring moments took place both on site and throughout the race course.. but unlike years past in San Antonio, Texas, Disney characters and cooler temperatures filled the trail and air!

It is with great excitement CleftStrong announces that together, participants and volunteers in San Antonio, along with corporate sponsors, personal donors, and virtual racers from across the states raised a total of $16,652 in support of the annual CleftStrong 5k and the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association’s (ACPA) mission to advance cleft and craniofacial research and patient care!  Additionally, for the first time ever, participants came together through the CleftStrong pre-race and race day raffle sale and by way of personal donations to support local cleft and craniofacial patients in need.  CleftStrong is excited to announce a donation total of $3,491 to be donated directly to the ACPA approved Cleft and Craniofacial teams at The Children's Hospital of San Antonio and Methodist Children's Hospital in the coming weeks!  The 2019 CleftStrong 5k raised a grand total of $20,144.00 in support of its mission!  Thank you!!

Some special highlights this year included welcoming Dr. Mark Boston, Surgeon in Chief and Associate Professor of Otolaryngology at The Children's Hospital of San Antonio.  Dr. Boston shared an inspirational message and emphasized the act of coming together in support of one another as being a significant part of the recovery process in addition to medical care during the cleft and craniofacial journey.  Thank you for being a special part of this morning with us!  CleftStrong also had the pleasure of welcoming ACPA Development Manager, Ms. Charlene Bell to San Antonio, Texas this year.  She, too, shared an inspiring welcome message on behalf of ACPA and connected as a fellow mom in the cleft community. ACPA Family Service Coordinator, Ms. Catherine Choi joined us a second year and provided valuable resources for the community.  As always, a heartfelt thank you to the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association and ACPA Family Services for their passion in creating a world where people with cleft and craniofacial conditions THRIVE!  To connect with ACPA Family Services and the resources they provide for the craniofacial community, click here.  

​It was a very special pleasure to welcome the Hidden Forest Falcon singers from NEISD to present this year's National Anthem, Mr. Gabe Rodriguez, Founder of Rally Up Fitness who led our participants in a race warm up, and Yusuf Mehdawi who shared his very own poem about his strength and bravery throughout his Craniofacial journey.  Thank you for making a difference this morning with leadership and your passion for others.

Congratulations to all 2019 CleftStrong 5k race winners this year. Mr. Jacob Buhler finished as the Top Overall Male Finisher, coming in at 17:15.5 and Ms. Leah Evans finished as the Top Overall Female Finisher, coming in at 21:06.5!  We honor personal journeys and the unique strengths to be found in each one.  We appreciate the variety of personal goals on the route each year and we want to send a heartfelt congratulations to all CleftStrong 5k and Kids Fun Run finishers for their victories made and the support their experience provided! For a complete list of all age category winners, please click here. Additionally, several fun awards were given out this year. Congratulations to our Best Adult Disney costume for a second year in a row: Annette Ramirez who came dressed as The Mad Hatter and Best Child Disney Costume: Oscar Martinez who came dressed as Stitch!  Far beyond a fun costume contest, there is a joy that comes with people using creative minds to create joy.  Thank you for your fun spirit!  Congratulations to our two largest virtual race teams this year with a tie: Hazel's Liberty CleftStrong 5k Idaho and Kayce's Pride with participants scattered across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, and Virgin Islands!  For a third year in a row, Team Amaris' Army of Angels came in as our largest team! This year's top fundraising team was: Riley's Runners!  To all those who supported a team near and afar, we send great thanks to you for your support!!  

This being the 6th CleftStrong 5k event meant so many things for the CleftStrong organization!  It brought the opportunity for race directors to pay a special recognition to its loyal sponsors who have supported the CleftStrong mission over the past five consecutive years.  "One thing I have learned is that each year brings unique challenges and a great deal of unknowns.  I have learned to expect the overwhelm of starting from scratch coupled with the very long list to accomplish each year!  There is always one thing I can know for certain.  Every thing that happens on this one special morning will be because of someone giving and doing from the heart. It will be because of someone giving and doing when they don't have to. People from the community and beyond will bring and give something that they have to better someone else's life in one way or another each and every year. For that, I can describe this morning as "special".  THANK YOU TO OUR 5 YEAR SPONSORS: ORTIZ & BATIS, P.C., DR. ROY GONZALEZ, JR., TIM STRONG & MSC EARTHWORK for your continued belief and support in our mission.  ​

For a second year, the CleftStrong 5k offered a kids fun run for participants 9 and under to run, walk, or stroll for cleft and other craniofacial conditions!  All participants went home with a finisher medal as a reminder of the #CleftStrong mission and their very own unique part in it!  ​

Youth participants took some time to create hand made cards for those undergoing their first major  cleft lip or palate surgery.  All cards will be included in care packages that CleftStrong distributes to the Children's Hospital of San Antonio and Methodist Children's Hospital Craniofacial Teams throughout the year.  
As always, we are thankful for the hearts of our youngest supporters on this day!

As always, thank you to Dr. Garcia de Mitchell. Dr. Peter Wang and the Cleft and Craniofacial Teams at Children's Hospital of San Antonio and Methodist Children's Hospital for the dedication, love, and support you bring to the craniofacial community inside and outside of the medical setting.