Fun run aims to turn Metro Manila into sea of red

To generate a million volunteers for the aptly named "Million Volunteer Run 2 (MVR2)," the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is calling on the youth to drive the activity's success.

"The youth are the lynchpin of volunteerism. Time and again they have shown the willingness to volunteer their time, energy and resources to the PRC plus they have the network to mobilize a rapid response to an emergency using the latest technology. There has been no successful PRC activity that did not involve the youth in some way," said Governor Mabini Pablo, one of PRC's run coordinator.

The MVR2 is a fun run that aims to turn Metro Manila into a sea of red, hoping to turn runners into full pledged life-saving volunteers during disasters. Spearheaded by PRC, the run will be held simultaneously on February 10 in Metro Manila and other key cities in the country.

The run aims to strengthen a network of volunteers down to the barangay level and to raise funds for the organization’s critical humanitarian services.

“We want to eventually convert runners into a dynamic and dedicated network of volunteers who are always first, always ready, always there,” said Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC). “The Million Volunteer Run is, in itself, a test run and a microcosm of how PRC can mobilize volunteers in times of disaster.”

The last run that PRC organized in 2011 helped the organization acquire new equipment used in rescue operations; as well as fund its other life-saving activities such as blood-letting.

With the Philippines being one of the most disaster-prone countries in the world, the Red Cross has been aggressively conducting a recruitment drive for its RC 143 program. It recruits and trains at least 44 volunteers in every community (one team leader plus 43 members, or 1+43 per barangay). RC 143 volunteers undergo rigid hands-on training and practice to be able to respond and lead on-ground efforts during emergencies and other challenging situations.

“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 Gordon.

Under its new strategies of mobilizing strategic alliances and harnessing the latest technologies, the PRC envisions that its network of volunteers deployed across the country will become even stronger and will continue to provide critical services facilitated by information flows and telecommunications that support agile action and swift well-informed decisions.

MVR2 is open to the public. There are 3K and 5K categories in Metro Manila. Starting from the Aliw Theater and the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City at 5:00 AM., the course will finish at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

Meanwhile, the PRC Quezon City chapter will have simultaneous 3K and 5k runs starting from the Quezon City Memorial Circle along Elliptical Road towards Commonwealth Avenue and back to the Quezon Memorial Circle.

All proceeds of the event will go to the Red Cross 143 volunteer program and humanitarian services of PRC. Registration fee is P100.00 for students, P200.00 for non-students and P500.00 for business executives. For more details, log on to www.run.redcross.org.ph or visit the official MVR Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MillionVolunteerRun.