The Canadian Red Cross is one of the largest charity organizations in the country, working hard to help both Canadians and those in need internationally who have been impacted by emergencies and disasters. The Canadian Red Cross has provided critical aid following natural disasters and events such as the train derailment, fires and petroleum explosions that occurred in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, earlier this year.
The response in Lac-Mégantic
The Canadian Red Cross rushed into action immediately following the July 6, 2013, derailment of the oil train, mobilizing teams of volunteers with emergency equipment to assist municipal and public authorities with evacuation from the fire downtown. Teams of volunteers from everywhere in Quebec arrived to offer aid, and a Red Cross mobile rapid response unit carried in more than 700 cots with blankets, pillows and hygiene kits.
The Canadian Red Cross also established a call centre in Red Cross offices in Montreal in order to help raise funding for those residents of Lac-Mégantic affected by the disaster.
Continued efforts
Recovery from the tragedy at Lac-Mégantic is still underway, with the Canadian Red Cross among other organizations continuing the effort to rebuild and restore the township. And several dedicated Canadians have found unique ways of bringing attention to the disaster while raising funds for victims.
Recently, a group of three McGill students embarked on a 1,300 kilometer bike ride, starting August 2, in an effort to raise money for the victims of the Lac-Mégantic disaster. The three young men, Nigel, Hans and Mike - under the name Team Pedal'aide - spent about two weeks on the road, biking from Lac-Mégantic all the way to Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
In their first several days on the road, the trio made it through Saint-Georges, skirting the edge of Quebec City. The bikers' route then hugged the coast of the St. Lawrence River. By August 8, the three arrived in New Brunswick. From here they traveled through Bathurst and Caraquet before continuing to Cap-Pele, where the trio crossed onto Prince Edward Island on day 15 of their journey.
Nigel, Hans and Mike detailed their adventure on a travelogue blog, which includes maps, photos and daily journal updates. They also noted a few end of trip statistics, including how many bike breakdowns each rider had.
To date, Team Pedal'aide has raised $8,491 for the residents of Lac-Mégantic. The groups initiative is just one great example of the efforts made by Canadians to help communities across the country, and particularly the township of Lac-Mégantic, recover from disaster.
What you can do today
To date, the Canadian Red Cross has raised over $11 million to support those affected in Lac-Mégantic. In addition to generous Canadians offering their support through a financial donation, over 200 Red Cross volunteers have donated their time and talents to help efforts on the ground.
You can make a difference in the lives of those in need around the world or in Canada today by taking the opportunity to donate, either online or at your local Red Cross office. Each contribution makes a significant difference in the life of an individual affected by hardship or disaster.