High School Student Raises $1400 for MiracleFeet

December 14, 2018

Reese Berman was a high school junior when he joined The Williams School‘s chapter of the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC).

FIMRC’s mission to help children in low-income countries access health care resonated with Berman because he was born with one of the most common congenital birth defects: clubfoot. He was treated with the Ponseti method as an infant but realized as he grew up that children in many other places did not have that same opportunity to have their feet corrected. The thought of other kids not having the ability to walk and run because of untreated clubfoot was “devastating” to Berman.

This year, as a senior leader, Berman knew he wanted to highlight this important cause. Under his leadership, The Williams School’s FIMRC club decided to fundraise for MiracleFeet. In collaboration with the school’s cross-country team, FIMRC hosted a “fun run” to bring awareness to MiracleFeet’s work and the problem of clubfoot disability throughout the world. In addition to the teams competing in the meet, any students who wanted to donate and run the race were invited to do so.

The fun run raised $700 and an anonymous donor matched that amount, resulting in the most successful fundraiser FIMRC has had to date!

In addition to being born with clubfoot, Berman’s dedication to philanthropy on behalf of MiracleFeet is a family tradition; his parents are founding members of the organization. “My parents did understand that clubfoot impacts children around the world and believed that a foundation that can easily treat children who have the same defect that I had should be started. That’s what led to MiracleFeet,” he said.

It’s clear that Berman understands the significance of this work and shares the same passion his parents do for ending disability caused by clubfoot. “It’s not right to turn our backs on [children born with clubfoot]!” he asserted. “We have to help them somehow.”

Feeling inspired to get involved? Here are some ways you can be a part of the global movement to end clubfoot disability.