China Southern and Project C.U.R.E. team up on major SARS airlift

China Southern Airlines has partnered with Colorado-based Project C.U.R.E., a Denver-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, humanitarian organization, for a major airlift today of critically needed medical supplies into the still SARS-beleaguered Beijing capitol city.

Since 1987, Project C.U.R.E., has been assisting neighboring countries in the acquisition and delivery of medical supplies and equipment. Project C.U.R.E. is internationally recognized as one of the world's leading humanitarian organizations.

"Project C.U.R.E.'s donation of 259,000 surgical masks and 19,650 pair sterile gloves will certainly do much to protect the health of the brave medical professionals in Beijing and help prevent the spread of this deadly disease," said Dr. W. Douglas Jackson, CEO/President, Project C.U.R.E.

Shipped on board China Southern Airlines' long-haul Boeing 777 from Los Angeles International Airport to Baiyun International Airport and then  transferred to Beijing Capitol Airport, the Project C.U.R.E. donated medical supplies are valued at more than RMB 529,000 (US$ 64,000).

"Although abated in most of China, the SARS crisis still rages in Beijing and China Southern Airlines is proud to continue fighting the good fight against this deadly scourge," said Mr. Wang Changshun, President, China Southern Airlines.

Mr. Wang reiterated his call that any scientist in the world who discovers a vaccine for SARS will be given the honorary title of "China Southern Airlines  Most Respected Passenger" and will be able to fly anywhere - anytime on China's largest airline - system wide - at no charge for his/her lifetime.

Today's airlift with Project C.U.R.E. marks China Southern Airlines' second airlift this month of time-sensitive medical supplies during the ongoing SARS crisis. On June 4, anti-SARS medical supplies - donated by  HYOGO of Japan at a value of RMB 210,000 (US $25,372) - were flown to Guangzhou for the ongoing local Guangdong Province fight against SARS and included a large cache of surgical masks, antitoxin glasses and sterile gloves.

Each week, Project C.U.R.E. collects thousands of pounds of medical supplies and equipment in large trucks from medical manufacturers, distributors, hospitals and clinics. Then, thousands of grassroots American  volunteers in the C.U.R.E. Corps sort, inventory and load huge semi-truck sized oceangoing cargo containers or cargo airplanes for delivery overseas. The recipients of the donated medical supplies include hospitals, clinics and orphanages in developing countries from Central Asia to South America, from Africa to the Far East, and from Eastern Europe to the Caribbean.