On April 24th and 25th 2010, The Outdoor Adventure Travel Show was held at the new Vancouver Trade and Convention Center. ROK Straps Canada provided a booth for the YOLO Racing Team to promote our 2010 BAJA 1000 Drive-a-Thon supporting our two great charities, the Vancouver Firefighters Charitable Society and Firefighters Without Borders Canada. The two day event attracted over 15,000 people. Firefighters representing the charities volunteered their time both days to educate and promote their causes as well as encourage people to sign up for this years Drive-a-Thon that will see the YOLO Racing team compete in the 43rd running of the SCORE International BAJA 1000. There was also a cheque presentation to deliver the funds raised during the 2009 BAJA 1000 Drive-a-Thon. The 2009 Drive-a-thon raised $575.00 for each charity. This year we hope to increase the amount of pledges where supporters can pledge per mile and follow the YOLO Racing team live via satellite as we race the 1000 mile race against the best drivers in the world from Ensenada to La Paz on the beautiful Baja Peninsula of Mexico, this November 17th-21st, 2010. We thank our sponsors, Nicho Real Tequila, The RYU Clothing, Schneider Electric, Candymar Properties, TVS, Sandra Steier Photography, Ryders Sunglasses, Rok Strap, Deakin Ind, Verdmont Capitol, Nitro Lube, The Great Little Gate Company, and Christina Pughe, AMP. It is with their support that makes this all possible.
$575.00 to the Vancouver Firefighters Charitable Society from the 2009 Baja 1000 Drive-a-Thon
$575.00 to Firefighters without Borders Canada from the 2009 Baja 1000 Drive-a-Thon
Mantracker stopped by to talk BAJA!
These are but a few projects the members of Local 18's Vancouver Firefighters Charitable Society has been proud to support:
- BCPFFA Burn Fund
~ Donated over $1,000,000.00!!
~ Vancouver General Hospital Burn Ward
~ BC Children's Hospital Burn Ward
~ BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Camp - CKNW Orphans Fund
~ Donated over $100,000.00 - Raise-a- Reader Program
- Variety - The Children's Charity
- BC Children's Hospital
~ Festival of Trees at the Four Season's Hotel
~ New "Pot on the Stove" Celebrity Cookbook Fundraiser. Available for purchase through our on-line store. - Christmas Baby Food Drive
- BC Cancer Society
~ We donated $50,000.00 to assist in a room renovation at the Cancer Lodge in Vancouver in honour of cancer surviver Vancouver Fire Fighter Les Whyte. We were proud to be a part of this major undertaking which is all designed to commit to the Children and Citizens of British Columbia the re-building of a facility which will be a supportive place to stay while undergoing cancer treatment.
- ALS Society
~ L.G. & Robin's Run, Walk & Roll - FDNY Scholarship Fund
- BCPFFA Burn Fund
YOLO Racing and Firefighters without Borders Canada will be directing the funds from this years Drive-a-Thon to a community in Northern Baja. There is communication between Sal Fish president of SCORE International and the Governor of Baja Norte that will soon determine a community that will be a starting point for the continuing relationship and suppport of our firefighting brothers and sisters on the Baja Penisula of Mexico.
Firefighters Without Borders Canada Current Projects
El Salvador (Jan.22nd-31st, 2010)
On January 21st, Firefighters Without Borders Canada will deploy a 26 person team to El Salvador as part of our annual deployments working with the Cuerpo de Bomberos de El Salvador. This team is comprised of 14 fire fighters, 2 subject matter experts (Tech Rescue & ICS), a group of 4 recent graduates of the Justice Institute of BC, Fire & Safety Academy who are on a scholarship program in place between FWB Canada and the JIBC, and 4 individuals compiling a documentary on FWB Canada operations.
Thailand (March 16th-28th, 2010)
On March 16th, Firefighters Without Borders Canada will deploy a 16 person team to Thailand to deliver an EMS program in conjunction with the donation of 6 new AED's with AED Tr5ainers and related EMS equipment. This team has 6 fire fighters forming the core with the remaining persons filling a variety of roles. The Thailand 2010 deployment has also been named Noah's' Journey 2010 in honour of Noah Yelizarov, who died tragically in Phuket Thailand in 2004. FWB Canada assisted the family to make a dream of theirs a reality, as they wanted to give back to the country where their son lost his life.
Paraguay (March 19th-April 2nd, 2010)
On March 19th, Firefighters Without Borders Canada will see our 2nd deployment to Paraguay take place. A team of 7 fire fighters will once again deliver a wide variety of training topics to the Cuerpo de Bomberos Voluntarios del Paraguay.
Peru (April 9th-18th, 2010)
On April 9th, 2010 Firefighters Without Borders Canada will deploy an inaugural training program to the Peruvian National Fire Service. A team of 7 fire fighters will travel to Peru and deliver training in a variety of fire-based topics and complete an in-country needs assessment to determine future opportunities between FWB Canada and Peru.
Cuba (Nov.30-Feb.15th, 2010)
Currently a member of Firefighters Without Borders Canada is in Cuba conducting a thorough needs assessment and communicating with the national fire service regarding possible opportunities for partnerships between FWB Canada and the Cuban fire service. It is anticipated that if all goes well, a deployment to Cuba may take place in late 2010 or early 2011.
Democratic Republic of Congo
The equipment destined for the Kinshasa Fire Department has arrived in country courtesy of our relationship with Rotary International. Currently the boxes of fire fighter PPE are clearing customs and should be delivered to the KFD shortly.
Belize
Recently, the first shipment of fire fighter PPE destined for the Belize National Fire Service arrived and was put into service. FWB Canada is very happy to hear that Belize will also be sending participants to attend the training sessions being held in El Salvador in January. This will bring the total to 6 participating countries coming together in one location for training, these include: El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Belize.
