Organisers of the Cayman Islands
Marathon are looking for a few good men and women to volunteer their time and
energy for the big race on which is expected to attract around 800
runners.
According to race director Rhonda
Kelly of Kelly Holding, there are many ways that people can assist with this
event on 5 December, part proceeds of which go to the Cadet Corps and the
Cancer Society.
Volunteers are needed to put medals
around the runners’ necks at the finish line, serve refreshments to the
runners, assist with runner registrations, help with the timing of the event,
drive relay shuttles, supervise bag check in, or just cheer a tired runner on
those last few yards.
The majority of volunteers for the
Cayman Marathon are the Cadet Corps parents who come out to support the event
and their children, some of whom run portions of the race. The rest are members
of the community who enjoy the opportunity to be a part of a fun and inspirational
event. Many are repeat volunteers.
Joaquin Garcia is one such
volunteer. This will be Garcia’s second time volunteering at the race. With
wife Kelley they travelled from Albuquerque, New Mexico, for her to run the
half-marathon and Garcia decided that he would make himself useful while
waiting for Kelley to finish.
This year Kelley will be running
the full marathon and Garcia will reprise his role as a medal presenter to
runners as they cross the finish line.
“I volunteered last year because it
is a great way to celebrate the finish with my wife,” says Garcia. “I like
putting the finisher’s medal around her neck. I actually volunteer at all her
races.”
Garcia enjoyed himself immensely
and says he cannot wait to do it again. “I don’t think I could stay away. Once
you witness one person achieve such an ambitious goal, you just want to
continue to experience that unique ‘high’.
It was so motivational watching all
the people finish. The first-timers were the most incredible. There was so much
energy at the finish line. It was almost like all the volunteers were feeding
off each other.”
Pam Parsons has volunteered for the
past four years doing everything from bag check in to clean up to serving
refreshments. “I love being a part of the Cayman Islands Marathon. It feels
good to be a part of something bigger than yourself, to see the look of
excitement and pride on the runners’ faces when they cross that finish line and
the medal is placed around their necks.
“For some it’s the first time they have ever completed a race like this and it’s
inspiring for us volunteers to be able to witness and share in this momentous
occasion with them. Each year it gets
better and more exciting.”
“There is no shortage of ways that
people can help us on race day,” says Kelly.
“We absolutely cannot do this without our volunteers, and they are the
ones who make the runners’ race experience enjoyable and memorable. Every year
without fail our runners give us positive feedback about the volunteers, and
compliment them on the great job that they do with so much enthusiasm, and so
early in the morning at that!”
Garcia encourages everyone to come
out on race day and do their part. “Volunteering for a marathon is like nothing
else you will ever experience. The
runners are so grateful for what you do for them.
“You get to see how effortless the
winners make it look, and you also get to see how deep people can dig into
themselves to achieve their goals”.
The Cayman Islands Marathon is
sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Health, Environment, Youth,
Sports & Culture, Gatorade, Flowers Bottled Water, Digicel, Cayman National,
Cayman First, Breezes By the Bay Restaurant, CayCompass.com, Kirk Freeport,
106.1 KISS FM, Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, Dolphin Discovery, MILO, BioFreeze/RVC
Rehab Services, Digital de Sign, NCI Services, Marshalls Rent-A-Car, Cayman
Imports, GNC, Quaker, CUC, Arch Automotive, KPMG, Appleby, Scotiabank, RE/MAX
Cayman Islands, Island Heritage Insurance and The Final Touch.
Online registration for the Cayman
Islands Marathon, half-marathon, four-person relay and Kids Fun Run is
available at CaymanIslandsMarathon.com. Participants can also do walk-in
registration at the Kelly Holding office. Email: [email protected]
or call Bev Sinclair on 623.8822.
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