At 9.00am on 23rd July, the organisers and helpers, all members of CLC resorts staff and The Smile Foundation, were greeted with temperatures in the high 20’s as they went about their task of preparing another fun day for the 3rd Smile Mile. Despite the thermometer rising rapidly to over 35ºC by mid afternoon, all were determined to be ready for the off at 8.00pm.

By 7.00pm the registration office was busy handing out runners’ T-shirts and hundreds of vouchers for the evening’s festivities. In the still soaring heat of the early evening, everyone was just glad that they were not involved in setting up the huge BBQ, where the food was to be cooked by Club La Costa’s Executive Chef Jimmy Staros and his team! As the participants, their friends and families arrived, staff sold raffle tickets for the Celebrity Raffle which was a new addition to this year’s event. Donations were received from celebrities such as Anthea Turner, Chef Cyrus Todiwala, Jennie Bond, Lee Dixon, Peter Shilton, Scott Quinnell, Tony (AP) McCoy and Willie Thorne together with vouchers for various Costa del Sol restaurants and golf courses

At the start line, the ‘professional’ club runners were placed in front of the participants to enable them to zoom off quickly at 8.15pm. As usual, our race starter was Willie Thorne, who greeted the club runners’ race winner, BALTAZAR SOUSA from Portugal, as he crossed the line in what seemed like only a couple of minutes. It would be fair to say that the ‘Fun Run’ was equally as competitive, in some respects, and the hot weather did not lessen the runners’ enthusiasm. To help the runners on their way around the course, the organisers had placed a very welcome and refreshing “continuous shower” on the route, while some preferred to take refreshment from the water station manned, as always, by the Fuengirola Scout Troop.

The winner of this year’s ‘Fun Run’ was FRANCISCO AGUILAR MORA, a young athlete from nearby Mijas who had won the 1st Smile Mile in 2008 and whose joy was clearly visible as he crossed the finishing line. The female winner was PAULA CORTES LAGO and the under-10 winner was THEO WILKINS who had, just before the race, so enthusiastically expressed his desire to hold the winner’s cup. Last, but by no means least, was our senior winner RICHARD CATHERALL, a long-standing CLC member who, at the tender age of 61, came romping home ahead of many younger and potentially fitter runners. Well done to all five winners.

With the trophy presentation ceremony over, the Celebrity Raffle took place with Willie Thorne picking the lucky winners’ tickets. All have now been contacted and were delighted with their prizes.

By this time, the evening temperatures were being helped by a gentle sea breeze, which allowed everyone to enjoy the BBQ and drinks while milling around listening to the live music or wandering around the market stalls to enjoy the variety of merchandise available. Of course, the children headed straight for the Bouncy Castle and the Bucking Bronco, which is always a favourite.

Everyone had once again made a great all-round effort to participate and enjoyed a family event knowing that 100% of the proceeds were going to help The Smile Foundation to complete the construction of the Cruz Dias Hospital/ADIMI Centre.

As always, the list of credits for those who gave up their own time to help make this event possible is too long to be included here, but you each know who you are and The Smile Mile Committee is eternally grateful for your monumental efforts.
�
To those who took part in the race, our heartfelt thanks go to each and every one of you for “Running a Mile & Making A Difference.”

Thank you.

THE SMILE FOUNDATION COMMITTEE