From left, Mary, Ed and Jennifer Fowler pose before the start of the 2018 Lake Placid Ironman Sunday. Jennifer competed on the Smile Train team, a charity that donates money to surgeries for children with cleft lips and palates. (Photo provided)

LAKE PLACID — Jennifer Fowler has a smile that grabs you immediately. It’s wide, shiny and enthusiastic. However, some people aren’t born with such a striking feature, and that’s exactly whom she’s helping.

In the 2018 Lake Placid Ironman Triathlon Sunday, Jennifer, 36, of Hopewell Junction in Dutchess County competed as a member of team Smile Train, an international charity dedicated to providing surgeries for children with cleft lips and palates.

When a person’s lip or roof of their mouth is not fully formed, it leaves an opening, or cleft, that extends toward the nose. The exact cause for a cleft isn’t fully known, but a common thought is that it is a result of maternal smoking, drinking, infections and a lack of vitamin B, which aids in cell growth. It’s a facial deformation that is not only jarring but can cause problems with eating, drinking, hearing, speaking and socializing.

At this point, clefts are easily treatable, and surgery is normally performed in the first few months of a child’s life. However, many countries sometimes lack the doctors and resources needed to fix clefts.

Smile Train claims to have provided cleft surgeries to more than a million children.

As he stood on line at the Farmhouse Cafe, waiting to eat a stack of pancakes, Jennifer’s father Ed Fowler couldn’t stop talking about his daughter. He was giddy. He was full of pride. He had a smile just like Jennifer’s — inviting and pleasant.

“She’s raised more than $5,150 for this event,” he said, “and she’s part of an eight-person team that raised more than $35,000.”

Jennifer’s stepmother, Mary, added, “I believe that money can provide 120 smiles to children with cleft palates.”

The couple wore matching Smile Train T-shirts in support.

For the past 12 years, Jennifer has taught special education in the Peekskill City School District, following in her father’s footsteps.

Jennifer has shown serious dedication to the race. Ed said every morning before she went to school, she would wake up at around 4 a.m. and go for a swim.

“She was on the Ironman panel a few days ago, and people told her not even the pros wake up that early for a workout,” he said. “The kids at the school got used to it. They would say, ‘You smell like chlorine. We’re you swimming today?’

“Everybody has goals professionally, personally and emotionally,” he said, “and I think this race encapsulates all of those for her. It makes me want to get back on the bike myself.”

This is Jennifer’s first full Ironman. She’s competed in various events prior such as the New York City Marathon and the now-discontinued Syracuse 70.3 Ironman (half the distance of the full Ironman). Ed tries to attend as many races as he can.

“It’s been a pretty impressive journey for her, going from 10ks to marathons and now to a full Ironman,” he said. “My biggest moment was her was during the New York City Marathon. She was running down the hill on First Avenue, and she gave me a hug and a kiss. Jennifer says seeing the family is a great motivating factor because then she had eight more miles to go.”

Ed, Mary and the rest of the family, which included cousins and some in-laws, had been tracking Jennifer’s Ironman progress throughout the day, using the event’s app on their smartphones. They were able to see how fast she was going and where she was on the course.

“One hour and 29 minutes was her time on the swim,” Mary said. “It’s great because we want to take photos, so we’ll know when she’s coming by.”

Even after the 2.4-mile swim, Jennifer didn’t appear to be panting or exasperated. She hopped on her road bike dressed in a red, white and blue tri-suit, a pink helmet and an ear-to-ear smile.

Ed had a surprise planned for Jennifer as she entered the home stretch.

“I don’t know if she’s going to be running, walking or jogging,” he said, “but in my head, and it’s going to be many hours from now, I hope to walk that last mile with her.”

Jennifer finished the race around 9:40 p.m. with a time of 14 hours, 47 minutes and 23 seconds.