Red Cross honours volunteer
Vernon man receives organization’s most prestigious award for 17 years of service
Whether it is helping people during last summer’s flooding in the Okanagan, providing hurricane relief in the United States or delivering supplies overseas, Vernon’s Cor Zandbergen never hesitates to help wherever he can through his work as a volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross.
On Tuesday, Zandbergen, a retired paramedic, was awarded with the Order of Red Cross, the organization’s most prestigious award, given to people who have demonstrated exceptional humanitarian service locally and abroad.
“Cor exemplifies what the Canadian Red Cross and the international Red Cross is all about, and that is pitching in, helping people and just bringing (himself) to every situation,” said Kimberley Nemrava, Red Cross vice-president for B.C. and Yukon.
Zandbergen, 65, began volunteering with the Red Cross 17 years ago. Since then, he has helped hundreds of people and been on countless deployments.
“I’ve never really aspired to be doing this work for recognition,” he said. “It’s just work as a volunteer that I really believe in.”
With the Red Cross, Zandbergen has been to every Canadian province from Ontario west, as well as New Orleans and New York in response to hurricanes Isaac and Sandy.
He was also deployed to Pakistan to verify cargo donated by Canadians reached its destination and was given to the proper authorities.
“That was a real privilege to be asked to do that,” said Zandbergen.
Whenever Zandbergen responds to emergencies with the Red Cross, he said he focuses on the work that needs to be done and does not let the situations affect him personally.
“I am physically and mentally tired (after a deployment), but not to the point where I feel that I am overwhelmed that I don’t want to go again,” he said.
Zandbergen said he will continue volunteering with the Red Cross.
“When I had my stroke (three years ago), I was unconscious for a day and a half. When I came to, I was asked what my goals were, and one of the first things that came out of my mouth was I want to be back volunteering with Red Cross, and within a year I was,” he said.