These fears come as the Red Cross launch a project on the Solomon Islands to introduce a youth education project to increase blood donations. In some extreme cases, locals have been forced to pay for blood donations as the banks are now so lowly stocked. This could have catastrophic consequences unless a turn around in blood donation is found, and fast.

Australian Red Cross spokesperson, Neil Waters, said -

This is not sustainable and it’s also not particularly safe. We need to dispel some of the myths that exist around the Pacific about blood donation. There are many myths about blood donation making you weaker. If your blood went to a woman for instance, that might even make you weaker. And there’s also a widely held perception that blood is for family.

Mr. Water’s believes that the low rate of blood donations in Solomon Islands is due to a lack of understanding on the the whole, and that with better schooling and advertising on the subject, more donors will come forward. By offering information in schools and colleges on the benefits on giving blood, hopefully the stores on areas such as the Solomon Islands will be replenished before needless deaths begin to occur.

Help Australian Red Cross with a Fuzzy Warm Gift

A Red Cross Warm Fuzzy is a fast, easy way to send a virtual charity gift to someone you care for and also help vulnerable people in Australia and around the world. Each Warm Fuzzy gift you send will help Red Cross to help people in need.

Choose a Warm Fuzzy gift to suit your special person, then choose an eCard to send with your personalised message.

> > Click here to send a Fuzzy Warm with Australian Red Cross

Other great charity gifts

Already a multiple world record holder for endurance, Pat has already raised millions of dollars in his 20 year running career, but this is his greatest challenge to date (I’m not surprised!). Pat has now completed 1000 km in Canada in just under a week, so just the 12,000km left to go!

Pat Farmer, said -

This run has been my dream for more than half my life. And to touch the lives of so many needy people is all the motivation I need. Something I have always kept firmly in mind is that this run isn’t about me, and it’s not even really about running a route that has never been attempted before. It’s about getting funds to thousands of needy people worldwide through Australian Red Cross. I am serious about raising millions of dollars for this cause. The rest is details.

Pat will now continue to run 80km per day over the next year to travel from Pole to Pole, with no days off as he travels through 14 countries including Mexico, El Salvador, Panama, Columbia, Peru and Chile. Having just personally been to Colombia, let me tell you, there’s some seriously hazardous terrain to encounter on the way, as well as some amazing scenery.

Australian Red Cross CEO, Robert Tickner, said -

We are incredibly proud of the amazing progress Pat has made and congratulate him on reaching dry land. We are in awe of his resilience and determination and we send our continuing support and encouragement as he continues his run on dry land to make a real difference to the lives of millions.

I’ll leave the final words to Mr Farmer…

18 million more steps to go. Stay with me Australia – South Pole here I come!

> > Click here to donate to Pat Farmer’s Pole to Pole Run

Help Australian Red Cross with a Fuzzy Warm Gift

A Red Cross Warm Fuzzy is a fast, easy way to send a virtual charity gift to someone you care for and also help vulnerable people in Australia and around the world. Each Warm Fuzzy gift you send will help Red Cross to help people in need.

Choose a Warm Fuzzy gift to suit your special person, then choose an eCard to send with your personalised message.

> > Click here to send a Fuzzy Warm with Australian Red Cross

Other great charity gifts

he only drinks red!

So don’t get yourself tarred and feathered for life like I did with that ridiculous gift, and get your dad something special this father’s day. A charity gift is a great way to say thank you for all the great work being the scenes your father has put in throughout the year to help you become the person you are today, and there are loads to choose from.

Oxfam Unwrapped
Have over 40 gifts choices available from just $10, from a simple chicken to provide eggs, to a toilet!
> > Click here to order charity gifts from Qxfam Unwrapped

WaterAid Australia
Many different gifts to choose from starting at $25 for two water taps, all the up to creating a village waterpump.
> > Click here to order charity gifts from WaterAid Australia

Australian Red Cross
Offer a selection of ‘Warm Fuzzy Gifts’ start at $10, from a trip to the doctors to providing a clean water well.
> > Click here to order charity gifts from Australia Red Cross

Oxfam Fair Trade Shop
Loads of gift items to choose from, starting at under $3, such as toys, games, homewares and clothing. Plus a whole host of delicious Fair Trade wines, coffees and preserves.
> > Click here to order charity gifts from Oxfam Fair Trade

Why not sponsor a child this Father’s Day? By sponsoring a child you will be giving not only a unique gift, but hope to someone less fortunate, a real helping hand to help themselves -

World Vision Sponsor a Child
Providing aid to over 20 million people a year you can help a child break the poverty cycle for less than $1.50 a day. You will receive an annual progress report plus the ability to write to your child through the World Vision online  portal.
> > Click here to sponsor a child with World Vision

Plan Sponsor a Child
Plan accept all children into its child sponsorship program, regardless of their sex, race or religion. You can help for only $1.41 a day. You will receive a great welcome kit and regular updates on how your child is progressing.
> > Click here to sponsor a child with Plan

So many different gift ideas, all of them completely unique, and definitely not a pair of socks! All of these gifts will be helping some of the world’s poorest communities to help themselves, whilst also providing a thoughtful gift for your Dad this Father’s Day.

Ps If you plan on buying your Dad a bottle of Fair Trade wine, make sure you know what colour he drinks first!

With 180 lives already lost, this number is expected to increase as authorities access more homes and vehicles in which people attempted to escape the fires. The Red Cross is currently finding temporary accommodation, first aid and food for the many people who find themselves without a home.

Red Cross volunteers have dealt with over 6,000 enquiries in the past 24 hours alone from people around the world phoning to check on family and friends.

Over 400 volunteers and staff are continuing to work in rotating shifts at Red Cross call centres to help deal with the volume of calls from people checking on the welfare of evacuees.

Donations have been flying in from all over Australia via the web and phone, and there has been a hugely generous response from the corporate backbone of Australia. Please find the time to make a donation to help the survivors of this tragic disaster get back on their feet.

> > click here to make a donation to the Australian Red Cross