The Oulu’s major fundraising event Nälkäpäivä, organised by the Finnish Red Cross, raised over over €20,000 to help combat international catastrophes.

Nälkäpäivä (Hunger Day) started in Pälkäne, a municipality in southern Finland. The original idea of nälkäpäivä was to donate the money you spent on one dinner in order to help families of victims in the 1975 Lapua explosion accident. This fundraising idea soon spread through the whole of Finland. Nälkäpäivä became a large annual national donation in the end of September, which normally lasts for three days. Donations for Nälkäpäivä go to the Catastrophic Fund. It will provide quick and efficient help for sudden disasters and long-term development cooperation via Red Cross and Red Crescent all around the world. In 2004, Finland made a financial donation of 60 million euros to the Catastrophic Fund for reconstruction in the wake of the Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami.

"In the poorest countries over the world, small children are the first victims of natural disasters. Everyday over 6000 children under-five-year-old will die from diseases caused by drinking dirty water and poor hygiene. A small donation will offer them a great help. For example, 15 euros can provide one year of clean drinking water for one child. The same amount of money can build a clean toilet to prevent the spreading of diseases. "

Now in its 26th Nälkäpäivä, Oulu Finnish Red Cross made a great effort for Nälkäpäivä. Over 200 volunteers gave up their time and went to streets with donation boxes. The age of volunteers varies from 9 years old to 82 years old. One volunteer came with her newly-born baby and was happy that she could offer her help to other young kids.

26 year old volunteer Virpi Juntunen, who spent three days collecting donations in the cold, windy street, said, "In my opinion, fundraising is the most efficient and direct way to help victims of natural disasters. Most people in the street are nice and generous. Some small kids came with all their pocket money, which made me feel really warm!" By September 23rd, Oulu Finnish Red Cross raised €19,329 by volunteers from the street.

"The amount of donation is still increasing because people also send money via internet and phone calls," added Heikki Estola. "All the money will soon transfer into the most needed items in the affected countries to help saving people's lives and rebuilding their homes."