UK’s cleft-focused charity launches GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title Attempt

SMILE Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused charity, is looking to make history by setting a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the largest online photo album of smiling mouths. 

Launched this week, to coincide with National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month, the timeline to secure the record title is World Smile Day^®, October 6, 2023. In all, 20,000 images of mouths, whether smiling, beaming or otherwise, need to be uploaded to the charity’s online photo album. Smile Train is asking people across the UK to submit their own smiles, become part of history and change the world, one smile at a time.  

Anyone over the age of 13 can participate and it’s simple to do. Go to everysmile.org and click on I want to make history. The platform will guide you in taking and uploading a clear and well-lit photo of your smile.  

Every three minutes, a baby is born around the world with a cleft lip or palate; a serious medical condition that can make eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking a struggle. For people with clefts, a smile can save a life. 

Susannah Schaefer, president and CEO of Smile Train said: 

“We’re passionate about smiles because we know what a serious business they are. As an organisation that supports free cleft surgeries and comprehensive cleft care, including oral health care, we are embarking on a global effort to honour all smiles by setting a world record.” 

Ian Vallance, Director of Smile Train UK says:

“We’re asking people across the UK to share their smiles with us, so we can give children with facial differences across the world an opportunity to smile too. By joining our global record attempt, you can be one of 20,000 people who are supporting cleft-affected children and families to lead full and happy lives. Not only will you have a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ under your belt, but you’ll also be helping us continue our life-changing work, providing free cleft surgeries for cleft-affected children globally.”  

A cleft is the most common facial difference globally, affecting around 1 in 700 babies. In the UK, cleft surgery is carried out within the first 12 months of a baby’s life by the National Health Service (NHS). 

However, hundreds of thousands of children living in low-and middle-income countries worldwide do not have access to the lifesaving cleft treatment they desperately need. 

Smile Train is the largest cleft-focused charity, empowering local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. They advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive.  

The world’s largest cleft-focused charity, Smile Train, hopes to make history by setting a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ for the Largest Online Photo Album of Smiling Mouths. And your smile can be a part of it! Visit: everysmile.org to add your smile to the gallery.