International Charity Smile Train Announces San Francisco 49ers Joe Staley As Host Of Electric Run™ San Francisco

NEW YORK, April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Smile Train, the world's largest cleft lip and palate charity, has announced today that San Francisco 49ers Tackle Joe Staley will act as ambassador for Electric Run San Francisco. Smile Train will serve as the official beneficiary of Electric Run, taking place for the first time in the Golden Gate city on Saturday, April 27. Staley will join more than 10,000 participants to kick off the race lighting up Candlestick Park, the same field on which Staley plays during the season.

Electric Run is a 5K run, show, participant art, and celebration of life. One million watts of light and sound will transform the course into an electric wonderland.  Participants will join in the show by lighting up with glow sticks, LEDS and anything else their imagination can conjure up. The route for the San Francisco run will take participants all around the outside of the stadium, through the concourses and across the 49ers field. Participants will be greeted at the finish line by a live musical performance from a local DJ to be announced, culminating with a family-friendly party.

"As an international charity focused on one thing - helping children with cleft lip and palate - we couldn't be happier to bring Joe Staley into the Smile Train family. Joe portrays dedication, passion and commitment every week on the field," said Troy Reinhart, Director of Donor Engagement of Smile Train. "To partner with an organization such as Electric Run that focuses on celebration and smiling is particularly special to Smile Train. We are so grateful to be the beneficiary of this event and hope to continue doing so in many years to come."

"Smile Train is an amazing charity that focuses on helping children worldwide and I feel privileged to join them at Electric Run for this special cause," said Staley. "The fact that this one of a kind Electric Run is taking place on my home field, Candlestick Park, makes it that much more special."

"We are extremely excited to partner with Smile Train, an amazing organization, for this great event and cannot wait to bring Electric Run to Candlestick Park!" said Latane Meade, President of Electric Run.

Registration for the race is currently open and will continue through race day for individuals and/or teams of four or more. Proceeds from the run will benefit Smile Train. Electric Run will also give an extra donation for all volunteers helping on behalf of Smile Train.

For additional information on Smile Train and how to get involved, please visit www.smiletrain.org.   

For additional information on Electric Run please visit http://electricrun.com/.

About Smile Train 

Smile Train's mission is to provide a child born with a cleft the same opportunities in life as a child born without a cleft. We provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive care to hundreds of thousands of poor children in developing countries and train doctors and medical professionals in over 80 countries.

Unlike many charities that do many different things, Smile Train's mission is focused on solving a single problem: cleft lip and palate.

Clefts are a major problem in developing countries where more than a million children are suffering with unrepaired clefts. Most cannot eat or speak properly and aren't allowed to attend school or hold a job. They face very difficult lives filled with shame and isolation, pain and heartache. Their clefts usually go untreated because they are poor - too poor to pay for a simple surgery that has been around for decades. We want our mission to be yours.

About Electric Run™

Electric Run™ is a 5k run, a show, participation art, and celebration of life. Incredibly talented artists and lighting technicians with experience creating beautiful art and light at Coachella, DreamWorks Animations, Disney, and some of Vegas' hottest shows have come together to create a world that will fill you with wonder.

SOURCE Smile Train