Chesapeake resident to longboard in Australia for charity

2015 Jan 22

Ryan Caruso is one of three James Madison University students who are embarking on a longboarding adventure in Australia this month to raise money for Operation Smile, a Virginia Beach-based nonprofit organization that performs cleft lip and cleft palate surgery and provides ongoing treatment for children in developing countries around the world.

Their journey will begin Jan. 20 and cover more than 1,200 miles, from Melbourne to Sydney to Brisbane. The team plans to travel lightly, packing only what they can carry on their backs, and will stop for food and supplies when necessary.

Caruso, a senior at JMU majoring in kinesiology and nursing, is no stranger to outdoor adventures, having kayaked from Weber City, Va., to Chattanooga, Tenn., and rock climbed in Joshua Tree National Park in California.

The group has a website, longboardaustralia.com, and plans to be active in social media, including Instagram (@Longboard4smiles), Facebook and Twitter (@Longboard4smile), and on YouTube.

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JMU media relations contact: Jim Heffernan, (540) 568-4553 or hefferjm@jmu.edu