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A thousand participate in a walk to remember
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Posted on Mar 21 2005
More than a thousand people did not mind waking up at the crack of dawn on Saturday, showing up as early as 5:30am at Kilili Beach to do their share in the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter’s walk for a cause.
The huge turnout did not surprise Red Cross executive director John Hirsh, who said that, from the start, he had faith in the CNMI community’s big heart and its compassion to help the needy and those in distress.
He said that some 1,100 participants swarmed the Beach Road pathway last Saturday, with majority of the participants coming from the 26 schools in the CNMI. The event also had several supporters from the business sector such as Hyatt Regency Saipan, Tan Holdings Corp., and many more.
Hirsh said he was glad to see Gov. Juan N. Babauta and some congressmen in the walkathon.
Rota and Tinian also participated in the event by holding their respective walkathon event. All 1,100 commemorative shirts were given away to participants who donated at least $15 to Red Cross.
Hirsh said that, as of yesterday, the funds raised by the students for Saturday’s event already reached $28,000. In addition to this, Hirsh said that corporate donations would be forwarded to them, amounting to an estimated $16,000.
He said, though, that it still is hard to determine the net proceeds from the event due to some payments they still have to cover.
All proceeds from the walkathon will be retained locally and will go to support the services of the Red Cross-NMI Chapter throughout the Commonwealth.
On behalf of the chapter, Hirsh expressed his gratitude toward the entire CNMI community, “for every mom, pop and child, son and daughter in support of the Red Cross.”
He said the event would not have happened without the assistance of its corporate sponsors such as Coca Cola Beverage Co. Micronesia and Subway.
“We are grateful that people in town and big companies believe in the mission of the Red Cross,” he said.
