Red Cross honors ‘Real Heroes’ at breakfast

Thoughts of the agony in Nepal and the imperative that individuals, relief agencies and nations act at once to ease it permeated an American Red Cross celebration Thursday that honored local heroes.

Dr. Thomas Chang, a Santa Rosa podiatric surgeon feted for his frequent humanitarian missions overseas, told the 350 people at Rohnert Park’s DoubleTree Hotel he expects to travel to Nepal Orthopedic Hospital soon to help operate on victims of Saturday’s earthquake.

“Maybe the only blessing in this crazy week is that the hospital is still standing and able to do its work,” Chang said.

He was one of 13 people honored as “Real Heroes” for their service to others, be it an act that saves a life in peril or a history of helping people in need of assistance. The event raises money for aid to fire victims and for other programs of the regional chapter of the Red Cross.

Several times during the breakfast, speakers alluded to the crisis in Nepal and the urgent need for aid. The American Red Cross has committed an initial $1 million to the relief operation.

In addition to surgeon Chang, who has volunteered on 15 medical missions, the tribute over breakfast honored:

- Teenager Sean Arden, who saw an 18-wheel truck plunge off the side of Highway 101 and ran down more than 300 feet to help free the driver.

- Cathryn Couch, creator of the Ceres Community Project. Its teen and adult volunteers prepare more than 90,000 meals a year for people struggling with cancer or other serious illnesses.

- Matt Snodgrass and Rick Bates, Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety officers who had no time to change into protective gear before entering a burning townhouse and pulling free a 23-year-old man.

- Sebastopol-reared brothers Lucas and Jasper Oshun. Their nonprofit organization Global Student Exchange sends young people to Nicaragua and Ecuador to promote environmental restoration and sustainable agriculture.

- Truck driver Edward Greening, who saw a speeding car crash into a tree on Stony Point Road at Highway 12. He ran to it and helped free a passenger who was stuck. All four occupants survived.

- Mary Beth Ludwig and Andrew Bailey, founders of the Anova Center for Education. It operates three schools that serve hundreds of children who live with autism, Asperger’s syndrome and other developmental impairments.

- Sebastopol police dispatcher Cassandra Pinney. Upon receiving a 911 call in which she heard only a woman’s screams, Pinney tracked the call through GPS and directed officers who arrested a man allegedly intent on killing himself and the woman who managed to dial 911.

- Vietnam combat veteran Almon Bundy, who reaches out to veterans in crisis and helps them get assistance and treatment for issues that often include post-traumatic stress disorder.

- Carol Rathmann, founder of Forget Me Not Farm at the Sonoma Humane Society. It works to end the cycle of child abuse by introducing youngsters from troubled homes to the joy of caring for animals.

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EDITOR’S NOTE:

Dr. Thomas Chang of Santa Rosa is a podiatric surgeon. This article has been revised to correct this error.