We are constantly asking people to step up and volunteer, each event takes so many hours of so many people to coordinate. Instead of us just saying why we need you to volunteer, we want to let volunteers and runners tell you how important these roles are, why it’s rewarding and how you can help. Learn more about HMF’s volunteer program here, but let the story below inspire you a little too.
Jeanne Corey, HMF Volunteer
My favorite volunteer position is being a course monitor. As a runner, I can vividly remember certain course monitors that encouraged me to keep going when I had nothing left or the ones that were so energetic and motivating that made me smile. They have stayed in my memory bank forever – sort of like my favorite 1st grade teacher.
When I am volunteering, my #1 goal is to make sure people are safe. My #2 goal is to be able to encourage and motivate runners and give someone a memory that they can cherish forever. A “feel good” memory that they can look back and smile. Building positive lifelong memories is what running is all about to me.
When I was the course monitor for the Harvard Pilgrim Middletown Half this month, I was fortunate enough to be able to help a woman when she was struggling to keep going. She was one of the last runners so I was able to leave my course monitor location and reach out to her. We walked, we laughed, we talked, we ran a little and she crossed that finish line and got her medal. We also hugged after and I made a friend for life. I hope that I helped contribute a lifelong memory so she’ll continue to run because at the end of the day, she had a good experience.
And in her own words, the runner that Jeanne met in Middletown:
Knowing Jeanne through running, this is so how she lives her life and makes everyone around her feel like the impossible is possible. Such a great inspiration to us all.
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