A quiz night, fashion parade and raffle are among a host of events taking part this month to raise money for the Bermuda Red Cross on its 65th anniversary.

May is officially Red Cross Month and the event will raise money for a number of programmes, including the charity’s new Disaster Risk Reduction Programme that is now up and running.

The charity has also launched a new fundraising initiative this year with local retailers, including the Phoenix Stores and Souza’s Landscaping.

Customers of participating retailers will be given the option to add 65 cents to their bill, one for every year the charity has existed. That money will go towards Red Cross programmes.

Ms Suzanne DeCouto, the Red Cross fundraising communciations manager, told The Royal Gazette: “Red Cross has many different projects. A new initiative is our risk reduction programme where we go into different communities and try to get them prepared for any kind of disaster whether it be a hurricane or violence within the community. We are preparing them to be ready for anything that hits them as well as getting them together as a community. It has been very well received.

“We have free transportation for elderly people who can’t get to medical appointments and also our Golden Hour two Wednesdays a month for seniors to get together. Sometimes they have speakers and fun activities.

“Our CPR and first aid courses are still going strong and now that we are coming up to the summer we have our babysitting courses for teenagers.

“We also have the thrift shop and as word gets out we have more and more people coming to visit.

“We have a rentals department for renting hospital and baby equipment and we still do our international appeals — it’s nice to see people have been coming to us for the Nepal appeal.”

Today marks the official launch of the month-long raffle with prizes including two $2,500 Worldview Travel vouchers.

Ms DeCouto said there would also be lots of “common sense” prizes such as vouchers for Belco, Rubis and groceries. Raffle tickets will be on sale Bermuda Red Cross and other locations around the Island.

On May 16 there will be a quiz night and dinner hosted by former radio host Mike Bishop at the Swizzle Inn at Bailey’s Bay. The quiz starts at 7pm followed by a “sing and dance” with Bill Krauss on guitar from Key West.

All proceeds from this event will be going to the charity’s Disaster Risk Reduction Programme. Tickets are $60 and include a three-course meal, gratuities and the quiz fee.

Finally, on May 17, there will be a day of fashion held at the Red Cross thrift store on Berry Hill Road, Paget from 2pm to 5pm.

For more details visit www.bermudaredcross.com.