2015 Red Cross Walkathon set for March 21

The American Red Cross-NMI Chapter is gearing up for its signature event, the 29th Annual Red Cross Walkathon, which will take place on March 21 this year.

John Hirsh, ARC-NMI Chapter executive director, said this year’s edition would be even better, with more activities and prizes for participants.

File photo shows some of the more than 2,000 walkers that participated in the 28th Annual Red Cross Walkathon in March last year. (Jayson Camacho)

Activities will include ring toss, balloons, a bounce house, face painting, a petting zoo, and the presence of Happi the Clown. There will also be a demonstration by the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services and a showcase of military equipment.

This year’s theme is “Walk for the Red.”

However, instead of the white or red shirts that participants usually wear for the walkathon, this year’s Red Cross Walkathon shirts will be green in support of the military.

“We changed this year’s shirt color to support our troops,” Hirsh said.

The event will also have free blood pressure and blood sugar testing as well as immunizations.

Prizes include water park passes, gift certificates from McDonald’s and others, BLU Tank 4.5 smartphone, Kindle Fire HDX, Athlete’s Foot/All Star sports equipment, 25,000 United Miles, eye exams, and many more.

Hirsh said those who raise $75 would receive a Pacific Islands Club Waterpark pass, $5 gift card from Subway, Regal/Hollywood Theater tickets, and a McDonald’s gift certificate. Those who raise $20 will receive a T-shirt, giveaways, and free refreshments provided by Coke, Subway, and Foremost.

There will also be 20 health fair participants, including the Public School System, Northern Marianas College-CREES-Aquaculture, Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, Commonwealth Utilities Corp., Ayuda Network, Let’s Move Marianas, Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition, Commonwealth Cancer Association, Family Violence Task Force, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, NMPASI, CAMI, PSS Head Start, Council on Developmental Disabilities, Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, Hardt Eye Clinic, Get Fit CNMI, NMC Nursing students, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.-H.O.M.E/Immunization, MINA, NMC-CDI’s Health area, ARC Health and Safety, Coke, Subway, Foremost, and Marpac.

Major sponsors and donors include Coke, Foremost, Subway, Scoops and Glimpses, Bank of Guam, IP&E, Pacific Subsea, Pacific Islands Club, Island Apparel, Bank of Hawaii, First Hawaiian Bank, IT&E, Coral Ocean Point, Marianas Eye Institute, PHI Pharmacy, Micronesian Brokers, ASC Trust Corp., Herman’s Modern Bakery, Athlete’s Foot, Triple B Forwarders, Ace Hardware, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, J’s Ent., GHD Engineering, McDonald’s, Tropical Blend Spa, Joeten Superstore, JC Tenorio Ent., Saipan Stevedore, SaiShip, Triple J Wholesale, Yaong Corp., Dental Care, Luen Fung Ent., KKMP, National Office Supply, The Shack, Power 99, KZMI, Seventh-Day Adventist Clinic, Western Union, and Saipan Zoo.

“ARC would like to invite the community to come out and we encourage families to join this year’s walkathon and thank everyone for their generosity to contribute to ARC,” Hirsh said.