 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!!   HAZEL'S LIBERTY Hazel's Liberty ties for the 2019 CleftStrong 5k Largest Virtual Race Team! This is the 2nd annual CleftStrong 5k Idaho Virtual Race put on by Organizer and fellow mom, Addison Ellenberger and family. In the several months before race day, Addison works to spread awareness and round up her community in Idaho! You can visit the CleftStrong 5k Idaho page on Facebook for more details on how to get involved next year! Addison shares, "My husband and I decided to start a Virtual team here because we wanted to be involved in the CleftStrong 5K! Doing this 5K is now a tradition to our family and close friends to help raise awareness and show support! We also want to teach all the younger kids about clefts, so that they don’t think ‘Clefties’ are any different than them!" KAYCE'S PRIDE Kayce's Bigger Pride ties for the 2019 CleftStrong 5k Largest Team! Kayce's Pride had racers from all across the states with an aunt in Maryland, friends in Massachusetts and St. Thomas, and Grandpa + pup who chose to bike and walk along a nature trail in support of their warrior.. just to name a few! Kayce's mom shares, "Having our son, the whole experience around it, has brought out the best in so many people around us. Our support system is more than I could’ve asked for." AMARIS' ARMY OF ANGELS Team Amaris' Army of Angels takes home the 2019 CleftStrong 5k Largest Team Prize for a 3rd year in a row! Team Organizer Lea Zarazua along with Amaris and family spend the pre-race months rallying their team of supporters. Amaris and her mom and dad have attended the CleftStrong 5k since it's beginning in 2014! They bring an amazing love and energy to this morning! Just before race day, Team Organizer and mom Lea shares, " I am so excited about Saturday!!! I always get so emotional during opening ceremonies. Thank you again for doing this for our cleft community. You have given Amaris a day to be celebrated because of her cleft, you have given her a day to be proud she was born with a cleft. I can’t thank you enough." RILEY'S RUNNERS
Team Riley's Runners came in as the 2019 CleftStrong 5k Highest Fundraising Team for the first year! Thank you for sharing this morning with us and for your efforts to support others on the same journey! 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! KIDS ZONE!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! 2019 CleftStrong Virtual racers included those from New Braunfels and Richmond, Texas, North Pole, Alaska, California, Michigan, Idaho, North and South Carolina, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and The Virgin Islands! We were with you in spirit all the way from San Antonio, Texas and loved seeing the pictures come our way. Shout out to all of our CleftStrong Virtual Race Teams from Aiden's Ginger Snaps all the way to Team W,X,Y & Z! What a movement YOU ROCK!! If you haven't already, please send some pictures our way to @cleftstrong and/or #cleftstrong5k2019. 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.  We send a warm thank you to the CleftStrong 5k Committee for months of dedication and shared skills to put this morning together along with their teams of volunteers! To our corporate sponsors and personal donors, thank you for believing in our mission and choosing our organization to support! If you would like to be a part of next year's event, please contact us here! Until next year, Ray and Chelsea Ortiz CleftStrong Co-Founders & Race Directors • Official race photos from our exclusive in kind volunteer photographer, Requena Photography available here! (Requena Photography has made these images accessible and downloadable for your use with code: 4380.) • Full race results made available by IAAP available here!  When our cleft journey began back in 2013, we asked God to take the wheel. We would have never imagined that He would take us into the unfamiliar territory of directing a race. We thank God that we have met amazing friends like you all through His ultimate plan. Here's to moving forward even stronger another year! 7TH ANNUAL CLEFTSTRONG 5K SAVE THE DATE!! SATURDAY, OCT. 10, 2020 THANK YOU TO THE 2019 CLEFTSTRONG 5K SPONSORS:   
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 Early Packet Pick Up: We strongly encourage all those who pre-register online by 11 a.m. CST, October 10th to pick up their race packets in advance to avoid race day sign in lines. Please bring a form of identification with you along with your registration ID. If you plan to pick up a packet for someone else, please have a copy of their confirmation email and/or registration ID with you. We will also be taking last minute race registrations and raffle ticket purchases in person at packet pick up! Time/Place: Friday, October 11, 2019, 3:00-8:00 p.m. CST HEB Lincoln Heights Market 999 East Basse Rd., Ste. 150 San Antonio, Texas 78209 Race Morning Schedule: 7:30 a.m.: Gates Open *Last minute Registration & Packet Pick Up for Pre-Registered Racers Open 8:00 a.m.: Opening Ceremony and National Anthem 8:30 a.m.: 5k Race Begins *Race results will be posted at the table near finish line. 9:00 a.m.: Kid Fun Run Begins 9:40 a.m.: Closing Ceremony (approx) 10:30 a.m.: End Time (approx) Print a Race Day Program Here Race Location: Los Patios 2015 NE Loop 410 San Antonio, Texas 78217 Parking: On a first come - first serve basis, parking will be made available on site at Los Patios: Los Patios 2015 NE Interstate 410 Loop San Antonio, TX 78217 Once Los Patios parking is full, all overflow parking will be made available at MacArthur Church of Christ: MacArthur Park Church of Christ 1907 NE Loop 410 San Antonio, Texas 78217 * Golf carts will be provided to help shuttle participants to and from Los Patios from next door. Extras: Best Disney Adult and Child Costume Prize • DRESS YOUR DISNEY BEST if you want a chance to win best adult or best child costume! Raffle and Premium Prize Drawing • Don't forget extra cash for our raffle sale! Race day raffle sales will begin when gates open at 7:30 a.m. and close at 9:30 a.m. Raffle drawing and prize announcements will take place throughout closing ceremony. $5.00 ea + one entry into premium drawing for every $20 you spend. Type of payment accepted: cash, check, and credit card. Need not be present to win! Download a 2019 CleftStrong 5k Raffle Prize List All New Kid Fun Run • Please make sure to stick around after you cross the finish line for a group picture! Virtual Racers • 2019 Virtual Racers: Make sure to tag us with your pictures and share your journey with us at #cleftstrong5k! We will announce this year's largest virtual race team after the race on Facebook! Helpful Links: FAQ's I can't make it, but I would love to donate to the cause. Take me to find my 5k team that is already created. I want to join! I want to support a fundraising team's efforts! I'd like to register to run or walk the 2019 CleftStrong 5k or Kids Fun Run! I still have Questions!  Not sure what race category fits you? Click on the light blue Category Details button in the upper right corner of our registration page for a detailed description of your options.
 CleftStrong is honored to announce that The Children's Hospital of San Antonio has partnered with the CleftStrong mission for a fourth year as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2019 CleftStrong 5k event. As an organization, CleftStrong counts its many blessings in the Children's Hospital of San Antonio's continued support to further the cause. "With their partnership to make this event successful in its mission, they also bring a unique spirit of togetherness that changes the entire morning for the community. The Children's Hospital of San Antonio Craniofacial Center, directed by Dr. Alejandra Garcia de Mitchell, dedicates and holds itself to a multidisciplinary team approach that meets the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association's standards of team care, while working with each family to determine the most effective treatment plan for their child’s needs. "As the event nears each year to our special morning, I get to see and hear Dr. Garcia de Mitchell's excitement," says Race Director, Chelsea Ortiz. "It is the same excitement I see and hear from our families. Her admiration for those she cares for and works with runs deep." Deepest thanks to the Children's Hospital of San Antonio for their continued support in making this event one in which many can look forward to each year. The Children's Hospital of San Antonio provides pediatric subspecialty care for children across Central and South Texas each year, including those born with cleft and craniofacial anomalies. Dr. Alejandra Garcia de Mitchell, Director of the Craniofacial Center at Children's Hospital of San Antonio has been an active supporter of CleftStrong over the past four years. To learn more about The Children's Hospital of San Antonio and the Craniofacial Center, click here.    JUST FOR KIDS: START YOUR OWN TEAM! Here is your very own downloadable KIDS FUN RUN flyer with space to provide your joining team name and password to give to your classmates, teammates, small groups and more! Click here for downloadable Flyer! Virtual Racers bringing their Cleft and Craniofacial Community Together! Pick a place to gather, register as a virtual race team, spread the word, and ENJOY! Click here to see HOW! Questions? Contact us here!
Helpful links:
How can I have something like this in my area? How do I submit my request for CleftStrong free entry? How do I volunteer for this event? How do I sponsor this event? How do I register my child's club/team/friends to participate in supporting this cause? 2019 Event Details Frequently Asked Questions
Didn't answer your question? Please contact us here!
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 $25,100.00 in support of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association’s (ACPA) mission to advance cleft and craniofacial research and patient care! Thank you. Above and beyond the money raised to benefit the craniofacial community in more ways than one might ever imagine, this morning brought together a community of support, relation, and understanding that we hope will continue to grow and strengthen year after year. Congratulations to all 2018 CleftStrong 5k race winners this year. Mr. Robbie Allam finished as the Top Overall Male Finisher, coming in at 20:02.7 and Ms. Sunni Rivas finished as the Top Overall Female Finisher, coming in at 26:52.0. 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 80's costume: Annette Ramirez, Best Child 80's Costume: Alyah Ferdin, and our first ever largest virtual race team awarded: Hazel's Liberty from Idaho! For a second year in a row, Team Amaris' Army of Angels came in as our largest team and Kate de la Garza was awarded for creating the top fundraising team: Rebel Ruthies! To all those who supported a fundraising team near and afar, we send great thanks to you for your support! 
Some fun highlights this year included welcoming ACPA Executive Director Ms. Wendy-Jo Toyama, ACPA Family Services Committee Chair Dr. Bonnie Gutierrez, and ACPA Family Services Coordinator Ms. Catherine Choi to take part in this morning with us! Dr. Gutierrez and Ms. Toyama shared a message with this year's participants just before announcements of this year's race awards.
The 2018 CleftStrong 5k offered an all new kid 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 #CleftStrong5k and their very own unique part in it! 
 It was a pleasure to welcome back Mr. Zack Rodetis-Urenda, author and creator of the worldwide 1IN700 fine art photography project another year. He shared on his continued travels and inspiring project with this year's participants just before race start time! We can't wait to see the final project, Zack.
As always, we send a warm thank you to the CleftStrong 5k Committee for months of dedication and hard work to creatively piece together every part of this special morning, all volunteers who arrived well before the sun did to make sure race operations ran as smooth as possible, the many participants including our cleft warriors all the way to those who decided to run our race in support of the cause! To our corporate sponsors and personal donors, thank you for believing in our mission and choosing our organization to support! If you would like to be a part of next year's event, please contact us here! Until next year, Ray and Chelsea Ortiz CleftStrong Co-Founders & Race Directors • Official race photos from our exclusive in kind photographer, MEF Images available here. (Download code: 8025) • Full race results made available by IAAP available here 6TH ANNUAL CLEFTSTRONG 5K |
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