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IGovernor
Stuart Jack, as patron of the Cayman Islands Red Cross,
unveiled a thermometer on May 7, the eve of World Red
Cross Red Crescent Day (RCRC Day).
It’s no ordinary thermometer
though. It’s a fundraising thermometer and is
being used by the local Red Cross to help raise $200,000
Caymanian dollars for its programmes.
The idea is just one of the novel
ways the Caribbean Red Cross movement celebrated RCRC
Day.
Actually RCRC Day has become the
highlight of a series of activities for celebrations
at National Societies and Overseas Branches.
For some, like the British Virgin
Islands Red Cross, an overseas branch, it’s a
week of activities. For others, like the Belize Red
Cross, it’s month long spread out at the various
branches.
Most of the Societies/Overseas
Branches stayed with the tried and tested activities
like church services, fun days, youth rallies, elderly
home visits, clean up campaigns and school visits to
promote the history of the movement, work in the community,
and of course, sign up new volunteers.
All Societies/Overseas Branches
ensured full public visibility with newspaper articles,
and participating in radio and television talk shows.
In some cases, the president’s or patron’s
message was televised nationally.
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Fundraising
golf tournaments are beginning to also become
popular but collection drives are standard.
In Guyana, beside collecting money, the Guyana
Red Cross collected blood in a voluntary blood
donor drive. One of their branches, Lethem,
also decided to go with an “edutainment”
drive – books, newspaper, CDs, video tapes
– for distribution to 12 rural communities
interested in that type of material.
In Bermuda, it was time
for the third annual Red, White and Do Day four
days before RCRC Day. The entire population
is encouraged to wear white and red, and have
an activity to promote health, safety and awareness.
Meanwhile, on May 11, the people of the Cayman
Islands are invited by the Red Cross to Dress
Down – in red of course.
RCRC Day also signals it’s
time to dress up for annual fundraising dinners
and dances during the month.
The Aruba overseas branch
of the Netherlands Red Cross, took it a step
further thanks to their relationship with popular
rock group, Entwine. The band will perform there
May 25 with part proceeds going towards the
Aruba Red Cross. They will also launch a video
promoting the “Faces” campaign.
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