Red Cross leads fun run today to stimulate volunteerism

MANILA, Philippines - To stimulate the spirit of volunteerism among Filipinos, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) leads a fun run in key cities and municipalities across the country starting at 6 a.m. today.

The PRC has targeted some one million individuals to join the event, which is in line with the United Nations Declaration of 2011 as the “International Year of the Volunteers.”

PRC secretary-general Gwen Pang said the PRC hopes to raise funds from the event from registration fees to finance training programs for its volunteers.

“We come together to fight our real enemy – disasters. Our goal is to hit the one-million (volunteers),” she said.

She said the agency has some one million volunteers nationwide but still short of 800,000 to cover all barangays under its Red Cross 143 volunteer program.

The program entails that all the 42,000 barangays must have leader-volunteer and 43 members who will be “trained to cope with and reduce the risks of disasters.” They will then have to pass on what they learn to others in the community to prepare them for calamities. 

She said the PRC is also having a hard time penetrating areas where there are armed conflicts. “We are now focusing on these armed conflict areas. Being a volunteer is not an entitlement. It is a responsibility. You don’t volunteer because you’re in or because it is the trend. It is a commitment to help others,” she said.

Pang said training programs on disaster preparedness and response and other life-saving skills have also been prepared to interested runners so they could become part of the “143 volunteer program.”

There are three separate routes in Metro Manila, but all of the runners will converge at the SM Mall of Asia.

The Manila route starts from Roxas Boulevard at the corner of Quirino Ave-nue to the streets of Cultural Center of the Philippines, Sofitel Hotel, Philippine International Convention Center and the World Trade Center.          

The Makati runners will come from Buendia Avenue corner Chino Roces Avenue, then turn left at Jalandoni street while the Parañaque route will start from Diosdado Macapagal Road corner NAIA Road all the way to Coral Avenue.