Former Marine Served His Country And Now Serving The World

A man with a mission. This former marine is fighting a new battle.

"Initially I just wanted to have an adventure," said Sgt. Winston Fiore. "And see a part of the wolrd I have never been to."

A simple idea, that turned into his life's passion.

"I figured if I'm going to walk for a year," said Fiore. "I'm going to do it for a good cause."

The cause, help children in under developed countries get cleft pallette surgery. It's a facial deformity that's easily treated, costing only $250.00. While that's cheap in the US, Fiore realized it's impossible for other families.

"In lots of developing countries, kids go through their entire lives with this birth defect," said Fiore. "And it can be treated in just a couple of hours."

So he decided to walk, hoping to turn miles into money. That's how Smile Trek was born. Fiore will venture on a years journey, starting in Southeast Asia and then go through eight different countries.

"It's deifnetely going to be interesting," said Fiore."But I just stay focused on what im trying to accomplish and the difference I'm trying to make."

So on Saturday Fiore will begin a new chapter. And close to his heart he wears this picture to remind himself of his ultimate goal. A former marine who went from serving his country to serving the world, one smile at a time.

To donate and help Fiore accomplish his goal head to smiletrek.org.

Jackie Smith can be reached via e-mail at jsmith@kmid.tv.