For the week of November 13 - 19, 2002

Red Cross honors two valley residents

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By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

The American Red Cross of Idaho hosted its annual Save-the-Day breakfast for about 100 people Thursday in the Sun Valley Lodge Dining Room. Seven other such breakfasts were held around the state concurrently.

Larry Flynn, of Hailey, was the master of ceremonies and Ketchum Mayor Ed Simon was the honorary chair of the event.

Randy Miller Express photo by Willy Cook

Save-the-Day Awards were given to Wood River Valley residents Randy Miller and Kathleen Schwartzenberger.

Miller organizes the annual toy run in the fall, which collects new toys to be donated to the Holiday Gift Baskets. This year they amassed 350 new toys as well as monetary donations. He also arranges a motorcycle escort for the Camp Rainbow Gold bus that brings children with cancer to the valley each summer for a week-long retreat in the mountains. At least 100 bikers ride along with the bus to Cathedral Pines Baptist Camp, north of Ketchum, where they mingle with the young campers, let them sit on the motorcycles and pretend to be a biker for a moment. Miller also serves as a volunteer at Camp Rainbow Gold.

Schwartzenberger, who works for the City of Ketchum, initiated the "File for Life" program in Blaine County. The "file" detailing a person’s medical history is kept in a tube on one’s refrigerator and, in case of an emergency, the paramedics can refer to it.

Kathleen Schwartzenberger Express photo by Willy Cook

"She has been really successful in getting those into households," Pat Lindholm, of the American Red Cross of Greater Idaho, said.

After the awards were presented, guests learned about the efforts of the Red Cross through a video and a moving testimonial by Twin Falls resident Colette Dillsworth.

The Dillsworth family went through a harrowing experience when they learned that their house was infested with a toxic mold spore. They lost literally every thing they owned, and their young children have been seriously ill. Through the Red Cross they were able to start over.

This year in Idaho there has been a 4 to 6 percent increase in the number of situations the Red Cross has had to respond. According to the Red Cross of Greater Idaho, it responds to at least one situation daily requiring its services in Idaho.

 

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