Red Cross launches nationwide million volunteer run in Dagupan
THE 2013 Million Volunteer Run aiming to attract up to 20 million Red Cross volunteers running at one time around the country in February 2013, was formally launched in Dagupan City last June 30.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman Richard Gordon led the launching of the project along with Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Calimlim during the assembly of the Pangasinan-Dagupan-San Carlos PRC volunteers last week.
The Million Volunteer Run, set on February 9, will be the biggest ever assembly of Red Cross volunteers in the country, running at the same time, that could hopefully set a world record, said Gordon.
The youth PRC volunteers will run in the highways, the elder volunteers can run or walk around their plazas while the children inside their school campuses.
Gordon, PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang and Red Cross officials from other countries were welcomed by Dr. Vivencio Villaflor Jr., PRC chapter chairman, and Florame Magalong, PRC chapter administrator.
WAREHOUSE
They were joined by Dagupan Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez in the groundbreaking rites of the proposed PRC Warehouse at the PRC headquarters in Barangay Herrero-Perez, where the Regional Blood Center is also located.
Magalong said the need for a warehouse became particularly pressing during the rehabilitation period after typhoon ‘Pepeng’ which devastated a big part of Pangasinan in late 2009.
At that time, Magalong said, a lot of donors sent items and the Red Cross had to beg building owners for use of space as donations kept pouring in.
Gordon signed separate memorandums of agreement (MOA) with Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital, Specialist Group and Trauma Hospital and Trauma Hospital, and the Luzon Medical Center that can assure blood anytime for their patients.
He also signed MOAs with the Urdaneta City University, University of Luzon and City Division of San Carlos for the further recruitment of Red Cross Youth, and with the Delta Communication for the provision of communication assistance to PRC.
Gordon also announced that the Dagupan Blood Center is now considered a regional blood center where all donated blood would be processed. (With report from PIA-Pangasinan/VHS)
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