Red Cross launches 2nd ‘Million Volunteer Run’

MANILA, Philippines - To stir the spirit of volunteerism among Filipinos, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) launched the 2nd Million Volunteer Run (MVR-2) last Tuesday in various parts of Metro Manila and key cities nationwide.

“MVR-2 – Run to Save Live”s is a fun run that aims to strengthen a network of volunteers down to the barangay level and to raise funds for the PRC’s critical humanitarian services.

“MVR-2 is a salute to all volunteers on whom lives depend in times of disasters and emergencies. Now, more than ever, the Philippines must be vigilant in the face of mass-casualty events that threaten the disaster-prone country every year, by drafting more volunteers and training them on disaster response skills,” said PRC chairman Richard Gordon.

He noted that they hope to make the public more aware of the key aspects of volunteerism such as disaster preparedness and response, health and welfare and voluntary blood donation.

“We want to tell the world that the Philippines has millions of volunteers at the community level ready to cope with and mitigate the risk of disasters and save lives as a nation,” Gordon said.

The PRC has launched its Red Cross 143 volunteer program to engage Filipinos into volunteerism as the country is one of the most disaster-prone nations in the world.

Under the program, the agency recruits at least 44 volunteers in every community, comprised of one team leader and 43 members.

They undergo rigid hands-on training to be able to respond to and lead on-ground efforts during emergencies and other challenging situations.

The PRC held the 1st Million Volunteer Run in December 2011 in 78 cities across the country with more than 400,000 participating runners.