Walk with a Nobel Prize winner next Saturday

By David Khorram, M.D.
Special to the Saipan Tribune

Did you know that a three-time winner of the Noble Prize is here in our community? The Red Cross was awarded Nobel Peace Prizes in 1917, 1944 and 1963. The founder of the International Committee for the Red Cross received a separate Nobel Peace Prize in 1901. Next weekend we all have the opportunity to support one of our community’s greatest organizations, whose roots are associated with four Nobel prizes.

The NMI Chapter of the American Red Cross will be holding its annual walkathon on Saturday, March 19, beginning at 6am. About a thousand walkers typically gather for a 10K walk. Funds are raised by the individual participants who walk for donations. Many schools and businesses participate in this annual event. If you haven’t yet signed up through your school, find the school’s Walkathon coordinator and sign up. If you aren’t sponsoring anyone yet, find a student or other individual to sponsor, or just come out on Saturday morning, make a donation, and start walking! The Walkathon will be held simultaneously on all three islands this year. On Saipan, the walk will start at Kilili Beach Park. Tinian walkers can gather at Tachogña Beach and Rota participants will start at the Manamko Center in Sinapalo.

Businesses have generously donated prizes for the Walkathon. Prizes will be given for the school with the largest number of walkers and the largest number of donations. Individual students, non-students, businesses, government agencies and non-profit organizations will also receive prizes based upon the funds raised.

This year’s fundraising goal is $45,000. The monies raised by each walker go directly to support the local NMI Chapter and its many activities. The funds stay here in the Commonwealth to provide assistance to those in need. This past year was very busy for our Chapter. Relief efforts for Typhoon Tingting and then Chaba kept the staff and volunteers active. The Chapter also helped raise funds for the catastrophic tsunami in South Asia.

Besides disaster relief, the Chapter provides First Aid and CPR training, swimming and lifeguard classes, help to victims of house fires, as well as community education on issues like diabetes and HIV. The Chapter also plays a vital role in providing emergency communications for family members trying to reach loved ones in the military. The NMI Chapter relies solely on the support and financial generosity of the people in the Commonwealth.

The Red Cross is a strictly neutral and impartial worldwide organization dedicated to humanitarian interests in general and to alleviating human suffering in particular. It is an international association of various national societies. Although the Red Cross works closely with various governments, it is a non-governmental organization. The American Red Cross was founded in 1881 after its founder learned of the activities of the International Committee for the Red Cross. The American Red Cross is a corporation established by an act of the U.S. Congress. It is supported by donations of time, talent and money.

One of the world’s most important documents, the Geneva Conventions, which establish standards of humane treatment of individuals during wartime, were created by the Red Cross.

Whether it’s helping a single family fire victim in the middle of the night, or teaching someone to swim, the NMI Chapter of the American Red Cross is here to serve our community. So, put on your walking shoes next Saturday and come walk with a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

(David Khorram, MD is a board certified ophthalmologist, and director of Marianas Eye Institute. Questions and comments are welcome. Call 235-9090 or email davidkhorram@hotmail.com. Copyright © 2005 David Khorram.)