The Barbados Red Cross will start celebrations for World Red Cross Red Crescent Day 2004, on Sunday May 2nd with a church ceremony at the St. Leonard’s Anglican Church, St. Michael. The Sermon will be delivered by Rev. Jeffrey Gibson.

Attending the Service will be Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Heads of International Organisations, Heads and Detachments from uniformed institutions like the Defence Force, Police Force, St. John’s Ambulance Brigade, Prisons, Nurses, Scouts, Guides and others. They will join with Red Cross Directors, members, volunteers and uniformed Red Cross adults who will present the Red Cross Flag at the start of the Service and Red Cross Youth Links Members who will retreat with the Flag at the end of the Service. The Red Cross President’s message will be read during the Service and a Youth Link Member will read one of the Lessons.

On Tuesday May 4th, Director General, Edmond Bradshaw will highlight the work of the Red Cross on the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation’s television live morning show.

On World Red Cross Day the televised message of the Red Cross President will be shown on national television and the Red Cross will participate in the big Annual Nation Newspaper sponsored Health Lifestyles Movement Fest Event on the Garrison Savannah. This event will involve numerous organizations displaying their work and activities, in the massive open air venue under tents. There will be exhibitions of many forms of activities for keeping fit and healthy, as well as numerous sports activities.

The Red Cross will be displaying its work, providing blood pressure readings for the public, First Aid and other displays, giving hand-outs on HIV-AIDS Prevention, Disaster Prevention tips, and promotional materials on its work, principles, and volunteering with the Red Cross.

The occasion will also be used by the Red Cross to raise funds through collection tins, sale of World Red Cross Day buttons provided by the Port-of-Spain Sub Regional Office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, sale of HIV/AIDS Red Ribbons, as well as with the sale of its annual raffle tickets with the first prize being a NISSAN ALMERA car, and other prizes including airline trips to St. Maarten, New York, Caribbean Islands, large household appliances and other items. The grand draw for this raffle is May 28th.

Red Cross members will share fellowship and have a great time at this public event that attracts thousands of people. Best wishes to all other Red Cross Societies for successful World Red Cross Day activities.