Red Cross looking to honor real heroes

The Red Cross needs the community’s help identifying “heroes” in Cowlitz County.

For the past seven years the American Red Cross has held the Cowlitz County Real Heroes Breakfast, a community event to recognize the heroic deeds of everyday people in our midst. The Real Heroes event grew out of the desire to develop an event that is closely related to the Red Cross mission of saving lives through prevention, preparedness and response.

Nominations for the upcoming Cowlitz County Heroes Breakfast are accepted for recognition of those who:

• Have performed a single act of heroism;

• Acted between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007; and

• Live or work in Cowlitz County, or performed the event in Cowlitz County.

The Red Cross will present the awards at the Real Heroes breakfast on March 27 at the Kelso Red Lion Hotel. A panel will review the nominations and select who will be recognized as a hero in each category.

The categories include animal rescue (either an animal rescuing a person or a person rescuing a animal), youth good Samaritan (rescue by a youth, 18 years old or younger, who took action to save a life), adult good Samaritan (rescue by adult 19 years or older, who took action to save a life), workplace rescue (rescue by someone at work), educational rescue (rescue at an educational setting) professional rescue (rescue by professional police, fire, 9-1-1, or search & rescue) and medical (rescue where a person’s quick response, such as first aid, CPR, abdominal thrust, AED, etc., to provide medical help saved a life). Often there is more than one person involved in a rescue. In that case, if selected, all those involved may be recognized as heroes.

This year the organization is especially looking for additional nominations for animal rescues and youth Good Samaritan rescues. They have already received several nominations in all other categories; however, all categories are still open for nominations.

Go online to http://swwashington.redcross.org/media/2008_Hero_Nom_Form_Cowlitz.pdf for a nomination form or call Terry Hall, 360-423-7880 ext. 138, to have one mailed to you.

You may also be interested in sponsoring a table for this special and moving event. Call Terry Hall, 360-693-5821 ext. 138, for more information on the limited table sponsorship opportunities that are available.

We know that nationally and locally there are many “unsung” heroes … this event is one small step in recognizing those people who have demonstrated courage, kindness and unselfish character through a heroic act. Please help us give them the recognition they deserve.

Nomination deadline is January 18.