Race for Life - supporting Cancer Research

Johanna and Rachel met the events team for Cancer Research's Race for Life at Derby's Markeaton Park for the 10k and 5k events taking place on Sunday 10th July. Attendees had all pledged to raise funds for Cancer Research and could run, jog or walk their chosen distance. There was over £120,000 raised (and counting) including another event that had taken place on Saturday.

After a briefing at 8am where volunteer tabards and radios were handed out, the volunteer team were made aware of the all important snacks table before heading off to their duties. Johanna had the important role of marshal and was encouraged along with the other marshals to take a musical instrument with her to cheer participants on. Johanna made her way to her marshal point to keep participants on the right track and provide much needed encouragement - Race for Life events are fully inclusive and for some participants it's their first time going the distance of 5k or 10k. Rachel was split between a range of jobs from being near the start line (there was music there too, not provided by marshals but a real party atmosphere from the 'main stage') and helping attendees to their areas (runners, joggers or walkers) before moving over to the finish line and handing out medals along with malt loaves as well as encouraging the celebration bell to be rung. Rachel also helped man one of the water stations and litter picked before joining a group of volunteers and Johanna to help derig the event - this involved getting cable ties off signs and stakes so everything could go into storage ready for the next event.

It was great to be a core part of the small events team that made the day possible and to see personal reasons for why participants were taking part as people wrote who they were there for on their race numbers. A free scoop of icecream for anyone that had volunteered was greatly welcomed after nearly 6 hours in temperatures reaching almost 30 degrees. A lovely end to the day was seeing some park visitors rowing on the lake as well as spotting a sign that goes along with the GoodGym ethos that 'heroes hold litter pickers'!

Thanks so much to Johanna for coming along to this volunteering session and getting stuck in with anything the team was asked to do on the day. The Cancer Research events team made everyone feel really welcome and were very appreciative of everyone that had volunteered.