Every 20 minutes, a child is born with a cleft lip and palate in China. A serious congenital condition, a cleft lip and palate occurs when there is a split or opening in the upper lip and roof of the mouth. It is a rare condition and while the exact causes are unknown, it is believed that genetic and environmental factors play a role. Each year, almost 30,000 children in China are born with a cleft lip and palate.
Although not life-threatening, such splits in the lips and palate can cause dental abnormalities, and symptoms include speech difficulties and difficulty in swallowing. Children with such conditions may also experience psychological difficulties due to teasing and ostracization from friends and even family. This can be grave and enfeebling, as it can negatively affect children’s self-esteem and cause them to withdraw from social activities. Therefore, the work of several charities and foundations in China has been instrumental in raising awareness about this condition, and money to support children with cleft lips and palates with surgery, rehabilitation, and support.
Smile Angel doctors examine a child born with a cleft palate
One of these charities is SmileAngel (). Taking action with a simple ethos of spreading love, they work with cleft lip and palate patients to improve their quality of life. This year, the foundation embarked on a ‘Mending Plan’, wherein they aim to collaborate with interesting, environmentally-friendly, and fashionable brands, artists, and designers to develop charity projects and use their platform to spread love to the masses.
In June, one such local healthy food spot, Moka Bros, joined the cause, designing a special ‘SmileAngel Pick Me Up’ Fruit Smoothie for summer. Made with mango, pineapple, and banana, it cost RMB 39 for a medium cup, RMB 45 for a large, and from Aug 1, RMB 1 from every cup of the tasty nutritious smoothie sold in their stores across Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu will be donated to SmileAngel.
The Moka Bros Smile Angel Pick Me Up Smoothie, with mango, pineapple, and banana
It’s the perfect time to swing by Moka Bros, enjoy a tasty snack, and know that you are helping to spread love and improve the quality of life for patients with cleft lips and palates.
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Images: courtesy of Moka Bros and SmileAngel
