Red Cross to hold biggest humanitarian run in PH

MANILA, Philippines – To help raise funds for the organization’s disaster preparedness and response initiatives, Philippine Red Cross’ (PRC) will hold its 3rd annual nationwide fun run, called the Million Volunteer Run 3, on February 6.

Dubbed as the biggest humanitarian run in the country, the Million Volunteer Run (MVR) aims to gather volunteers and supporters of the PRC in several run sites all over the country to run for the benefit of the Red Cross.

“The Philippine Red Cross has always been at the forefront of disasters and calamities, rescuing people, providing life-saving assistance and initiating recovery programs that provide beneficiaries with assistance to help them get back on their own feet after each disaster, such as restoring shelter, livelihood, water and sanitation, health service and delivery, and education,” said PRC chairman Richard Gordon.

Gordon added, “We have also been training volunteers through our Red Cross 143 program who would be the communities’ first responders in case of disasters.”

“By joining the Million Volunteer Run, you can help the Red Cross help more people to be resilient to disasters, bring assistance to the most vulnerable and help us to be more prepared to respond to disasters and calamities,” Gordon said.

The Red Cross chairman said that part of the money that will be raised from the run will also be used to buy new ambulances and other rescue equipment and vehicles that can be used during mass casualty incidents and disasters anywhere in the country.

There will be 65 Red Cross chapters that will participate in the simultaneous nationwide run.

In Metro Manila, the MVR will take place in three primary locations: at the SM Mall of Asia bayside area in Pasay City, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, and at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.

For those who are interested to join the run, there are 3 registration rates to choose from: regular, which costs P400, inclusive of an MVR singlet, a runner’s card, and a number bib; adult discount, which costs P200 and inclusive of a runner’s card and a number bib; and student and seniors discount, which costs P100 inclusive of a number bib and a runner’s card.

Registration is open until February 6, but walk-in registrants during the event itself are not guaranteed to avail of runner kits. Aspiring runners are therefore advised to register a week before the run itself to secure their kits.

The assembly time for runners in all participating chapters nationwide will be from 4:00 to 5:00 am.

A pre-run program (stretching, zumba, and calisthenics) will be held from 5:00 am until the race officially begins on gun start at 5:30 am. The run is expected to conclude at 7:30 am. There will be a post-run program until 8:00 am. – Rappler.com