The Crikvenica Municipal Red Cross Society celebrated its 80th anniversary, marking eight decades of work and activity with a ceremony on Monday evening at Hotel Vila Ružica in Crikvenica.
Numerous guests attended the ceremony, including former and current presidents and directors of the Crikvenica Municipal Red Cross Society and other county Red Cross societies, voluntary blood donors, members of the Society, and former and current volunteers. The gathering was opened by the president of the Crikvenica Municipal Red Cross Society, Dr Željka Polonijo, while welcome speeches were delivered by Branka Maračić, director of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Red Cross Society, Ines Kassal Andrašević, president of the Crikvenica City Council, and Robert Markt, executive president of the Croatian Red Cross.
Director Irena Gašparović provided a brief chronological overview of the society's development and reflected on the growth of voluntary blood donation in Crikvenica, which began in 1957. Ines Kassal Andrašević emphasised that eight decades of activity represent a rich tradition of solidarity, assistance and togetherness. Robert Markt highlighted that the Red Cross is an organisation based on voluntarism, while Branka Maračić noted that the Society was established immediately after the Second World War.
At the ceremony, acknowledgements were presented to all donors who achieved a milestone donation in the past year. The Croatian Red Cross award and silver badge for 75 donations were given to Robert Šandl, Sanjin Šopić and Toni Sascha Jurinčić, while the award and bronze badge for 50 donations went to Mirko Lončarić, Ivica Antić and Goran Pajana. Mirjan Antić received an award for 40 donations, Igor Todorović for 30 donations, and Iva Suden for 25 donations.
Awards for 20 donations were presented to Filip Deranja, Robert Katić, Mladen Butorac, Aleksandar Tomaš and Igor Babič. Awards for 10 donations were received by Ivna Lončarić, Gabriela Car, Diana Khalaf, Aurora Sučić, Ante Sučić, Bruno Jovanović, Ticijan Oroši, Leo Matejčić, Goran Crnković, Ante Kalanj, Ivan Kosagov and Bernard Peko-Lončar, while awards for 5 donations went to Kornelija Dobrila Pobor, Vlatka Kosić, Martina Pauković, Mirna Vičić, Sanja Gržac and Mia Lakotić. Notably, 25 October is observed as Blood Donor Day in the Republic of Croatia.
Acknowledgements were also presented to the City of Crikvenica, Eko-Murvica, Thalassotherapy, the Crikvenica Branch of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Institute for Public Health, the Crikvenica Branch of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County Health Centre, Dr Antun Barak Secondary School, Zvonko Car Primary School, Vladimir Nazor Primary School, Semafor Driving School Crikvenica, the Association of Retirees of the City of Crikvenica and Vinodol County, the Sunce Association of Retirees of the City of Crikvenica, the Crikvenica Public Fire Brigade, the Crikvenica Volunteer Fire Society, Radost Kindergarten, DZUIP Crikvenica, Crikva.hr, Tunera.info, Novi List and Radio Kaštel. The programme marking the society's 80th anniversary was enhanced by performances from the klapa Sveta Jelena and singer-songwriter Neven Barac, who also hosted the event.
