Carol Clark, Pueblo Branch, Pikes Peak Chapter, Colorado

Carol Clark adjusts her boots as she prepares to assist at the Alpine Mud Slides disaster site at Alpine, Colorado, in 2007. (Photo: George Cary/American Red Cross.)

I got involved with swimming as a young girl when my brother pushed me into our neighborhood pool. The Red Cross lifeguard had to pull me out. Later, the lifeguards at the pool taught me and others how to swim.

When I was 14, I took the Junior Lifeguard course, and that started my long career with the Red Cross. In high school, I was a Red Cross volunteer at Park View Hospital. At that time, the Red Cross was one of the only organizations other than church where you could "help" other people.

I kept swimming and eventually became a water safety, CPR, and first aid instructor and instructor trainer. One day a Red Cross disaster volunteer asked me if I was interested in helping respond to local disasters. That was it—I was hooked! I started responding to local disasters and then national disasters, and later I became an instructor in disaster courses.

Serving in New York after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, I met a man who had been on the 11th floor of the second tower. He and others evacuated just before the plane hit his building. He was hurt, but he got out safely. The very next day, he and his wife learned they were going to have a baby. That really affected me.

In my 44 (going on 45) years of volunteering for the Red Cross, I have met wonderful people and had experiences beyond my belief. I've had the opportunity to meet diverse groups and found that we are all very much alike. Even those affected by a disaster want to help. That's what it's all about—helping others.

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