At least 2,000 join Red Cross walkathon

At least 2,000 early birds across all sections of the CNMI community participated in the 22nd Annual Red Cross Walkathon held simultaneously on Saipan, Tinian and Rota Saturday morning.

American Red Cross CNMI Chapter executive director John Hirsch said there were 1,400 registered walkers, most of whom were children with parents and private companies that joined the cause.

“I think what makes our event so attractive to people in the community is that we really try to make it a family event. When it first started, it was only for the schools until the last five or six years when we really tried to broaden it,” Hirsch said.

Non-profit organizations set up booths for health information such as the Ayuda Network, the Commonwealth Cancer Association, Commonwealth Diabetes Coalition, and the Family Violence Task Force, among others.

The event included a health fair where volunteers provided free blood sugar testing, blood pressure check, cooking demonstrations, face painting, a bounce house and games for children.

Foremost Health Fair Booth also set up an area where they provided information on the nutritional values of milk products and treated event participants to free samples of healthful food.

Hirsh said he and his team were overwhelmed with the turnout. He was pleased to see young children participating and walking for a worthy cause.

This year’s 22nd Red Cross Walkathon’s goal was to raise $35,000.

“I feel that we have really come very close to that number,” he said. The amount raised is still being tabulated and the final figure will be released as soon as it becomes available.

Hirsh said the money the group raised this year would go to the Red Cross NMI Chapter’s operational funding. “It stays with the local chapter,” he said, adding that the money would help the group continue its different community services.

Last year, 1,500 people showed up for the event; the CNMI Chapter was able to raise $36,000 for various community projects. In 2006, approximately $40,000 was raised.

Hirsh thanked this year’s walkathon premier sponsors: Coca Cola, Subway, Foremost, Glimpses and others for providing free drinks and other freebies for the walkers.

March was declared annually as Red Cross Month to recognize the community service and assistance the American Red Cross has extended throughout the world.

Hirsch said that after the catastrophic and long-lasting effects of Hurricane Katrina, “Red Cross has realized that no one agency or government can do it alone and that partnerships are so important to the safety of the people that live in the community.”