When Chesca Colloredo-Mansfeld left the corporate world, she wasn’t just making a career change—she was embarking on a mission to change lives. As the co-founder of MiracleFeet, Chesca and her team have committed themselves to a clear, powerful goal: ensuring that every child born with clubfoot, no matter where they live, has access to effective treatment. This is the story of how a simple, cost-effective solution is breaking barriers and giving children the chance to walk, run, and thrive.
Understanding Clubfoot
Imagine being born with a condition that turns your feet inward and downward, making walking difficult, if not impossible. This is the reality of clubfoot, a common birth defect that affects 1 in every 800 babies. Over 200,000 babies are born with clubfoot every year, 90% of whom live in low and middle income countries.
Clubfoot is routinely treated at birth in wealthy countries, allowing children to lead normal lives. However, in many low and middle-income countries access to treatment is very limited, making untreated clubfoot a major cause of disability. The consequences of untreated clubfoot are severe, leading to lack of mobility, stigma, and a life shadowed by poverty and social isolation.
Founding of MiracleFeet
Chesca didn’t just stumble upon the idea of founding MiracleFeet; she felt compelled by a profound sense of purpose. After learning about the Ponseti method—a non-surgical treatment that could easily be scaled globally—she realized that this was her calling. She connected with some parents who shared her passion and MiracleFeet was born in 2010, with a mission that was both simple and revolutionary: to bring this life-changing treatment to every corner of the world. What started as a small, passionate effort has grown into a global movement, with MiracleFeet now treating nearly 100,000 children in over 36 countries.
The Challenges and Successes
Launching a nonprofit dedicated to a relatively unknown condition wasn’t easy. Raising awareness, let alone funds required determination and resilience. But Chesca’s passion was infectious. The organization secured a pivotal $1 million grant from Google, which catapulted its ability to scale operations. MiracleFeet has now reached over 100,000 in 36 countries and has an ambitious goal to treat 70% of clubfoot cases in the countries where they operate.
The Role of Technology
MiracleFeet’s success is driven by dedication and supported by its Impact Delivery approach – a robust, sustainable local partnership model that leverages technology to maximize impact today while building the foundation for continued long-term success. Working with Dimagi’s Impact Delivery platform, CommCare, MiracleFeet developed a custom data collection and monitoring system tailored for clinics treating clubfoot. Using CommCare, MiracleFeet is able to achieve Better, More, and Sustained impact.
- Quality for Better Impact – The CommCare-based system tracks four key metrics to measure treatment success, ensuring each child receives the highest quality of care. This focus on quality enhances individual outcomes and strengthens the trust among communities and healthcare providers.
- Quantity for More Impact – By leveraging CommCare, MiracleFeet has scaled its low-cost clubfoot treatment to 36 countries, reaching over 70% of children born with clubfoot in the first year of birth in three countries and over 50% in 5 more.
- Longevity of Sustained Impact – While MiracleFeet is focused on evolving its technology over time they are deeply committed to the organization’s overall sustainability too. This includes ensuring strong leadership succession. With a seamless transition from Chesca to Daphne Sorenson as the CEO, Chesca has kept MiracleFeet’s mission at the forefront, while providing support and wisdom from the sidelines.
By embracing Impact Delivery, MiracleFeet has been able to scale its impact while ensuring that every child receives the best possible treatment.
The Result of Focused Impact
MiracleFeet’s journey from a single idea to a global impact—expanding to 36 countries and treating over 100,000 children—highlights the effectiveness of focused, strategic growth. Chesca and her team recognize that true success means building a sustainable model that can thrive without them. They are dedicated to integrating clubfoot treatment into national health systems, ensuring that local providers can continue this vital work long into the future.
Beyond a charity, MiracleFeet’s approach is a thoughtful blend of empathy and technology, addressing a specific issue with precision. Their efforts have not only transformed thousands of lives but also set a new example for global health initiatives. This work shows that with the right approach, even the most challenging problems can be solved effectively.
Tune in to the full podcast episode for an in-depth look at Chesca’s inspiring journey with MiracleFeet and how the organization is transforming lives globally.
