The northwest Missouri Red Cross has kicked off their annual fundraising drive.

Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Northwest Missouri Angie Springs said the Heroes Campaign runs through April.

“We recruit anywhere from 60 to 100 Heroes and Heroes Teams that set out during the month of March and April to raise money for the Northwest Missouri Chapter,” Springs said. “This is the only local non-disaster driven fundraiser that we utilize every year so it’s very vital to our services.”

Springs said the annual fundraising drive is important to the services the Red Cross provides in northwest Missouri.

“It goes to help provide that support for us to be immediate responders during times of disaster, so when there’s a single-family house fire at 2 a.m. on Christmas morning, we’re able to be there,” Springs said. “It also helps us provide our vital services to Armed Forces where we are the direct link between service members and their families. It also enables us to teach lifesaving CPR and First Aid as well as collect vital blood units that are needed coast to coast across the nation and right here in our communities.”

Springs said the overall goal this year is to raise $150,000. To donate or find out more information, click here.