Rescue SA: Give a Rand for Japan

South Africans Called on to ‘Give a Rand for Japan’ The Old Shanghai Firecracker Factory agency, Johannesburg has developed a viral and print advertising campaign to help raise money for Rescue South Africa on their mission to Japan to assist with the disaster relief. The campaign, called ‘Give a Rand for Japan’ is calling for South Africans to donate to Rescue SA via a dedicated SMS line.

Sandra McDiarmid, Managing Director at Old Shanghai says, “We have developed this campaign to raise the much needed money to assist the Rescue SA operation while they are in Japan. It is aimed at garnering support of all South Africans and giving them the opportunity to get involved in assisting the devastated nation. All it takes is a donation of a R5, the cost of the SMS.”

Rescue SA is a non-government organisation whose purpose is to provide disaster relief and response to rescue operations and mass casualty both locally and internationally. They are South Africa’s International Disaster and Urban Search and Rescue Team and the official South African Disaster Response Team made up of volunteer emergency response specialists from the South African public and private sector emergency and ancillary services.

The 40-member Rescue SA team was drawn from emergency services across the country and includes 10 doctors and paramedics who left for Tokyo on the 15th of March with 15 tons of equipment, and 1200litres of water, to join aid workers and rescue teams from around the world that have responded to the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Commenting on the support of the campaign, Sam Botsis, spokesperson for Rescue SA says, “We cannot thank the agency and the sponsors enough for their support if it wasn’t for campaigns like these we would not be able to deploy our volunteers for such noble causes. We firmly believe that this campaign is making it accessible for South Africans to truly make a difference in Japan at a time when it is needed most.”

“We are aiming at using the money raised for more equipment, better camping gear and additional resources towards our missions.” She adds, “We are hoping to dispatch warm clothing to our volunteers in Japan in the coming days as they are working in freezing conditions.”

McDiarmid continues, “The campaign aims to raise money so the team of Rescue SA volunteers can continue their heroic work in Japan. Sponsors who have made the campaign possible include; Manmade, Medhold, Manganese Metal Company, MTN, Altech Autopage, Honda Marine, Standard Bank and Netcare 911 but we are calling for additional support from South Africans who can donate money buy sending an SMS, which could save someone’s life.”

“The disaster response team in Japan is keeping us continuously updated via Twitter (ResQSA) and Facebook,” says McDiarmid. “It is amazing to see the power of social media. Since the campaign broke on the weekend we have seen an increase in followers and support for this worthy cause as well as the private sector coming on board and donating a staggering R4.8 million.”

“The money raised will provide Rescue SA with equipment, resources and getting them home and we encourage all South Africans to participate in this very worthy cause. You cannot begin to imagine the state of Japan after such devastation and the people of Japan need all the help they can get,” concludes McDiarmid.

For more information visit: www.rescue-sa.co.za, follow Rescue SA on Twitter: ResQSA, Join the Facebook group: Rescue SA and to donate SMS Japan to 36585 and Give a Rand for Japan. (SMS charged at R5)