Sunday, 1 April 2012

Run for the Kids Volunteers - Join the Volunteer Army!

It goes without saying that this enormous event could not be staged without the dedication and hard work of volunteers. Behind the scenes the event relies on more than 700 volunteers to man drink stations, street corners and the finish line to assist and cheer the runners on their way.

Volunteering is a terrific way of being involved and helping to raise vital funds for the 2012 Good Friday Appeal.

Lunch is provided, and all volunteers receive a free tshirt.

Before completing the volunteer application, please read the following key information:

1. By completing this application you are allowing the Herald & Weekly Times on behalf of the event managers, USM Events Pty Ltd, to capture information for the sole purpose of filling volunteer positions for the 2012 Herald Sun/CityLink Run for the Kids. Your contact details will be included in the Herald Sun/CityLink Run for the Kids volunteer database and will be used only to communicate with you about the event.
2. Volunteers will be asked to confirm that they have read the Herald Sun/CityLink Run for the Kids 2012 Volunteer Terms & Conditions.
3. Volunteers involved in the 2012 Herald Sun/CityLink Run for the Kids will be covered by the Event's Volunteer Insurance Policy.
4. Volunteers for the 2012 Herald Sun/CityLink Run for the Kids must be 16 years of age on 1 April 2012 in order to assume a volunteer role.
5. Volunteers for the 2012 Herald Sun/CityLink Run for the Kids will be required to attend one of two Information and Training Sessions in February-March 2012. Further details regarding training sessions will be provided.

Volunteer Position Descriptions

Course Marshals are assigned to designated areas along the run course to help ensure that the course is safe for participants to compete on. The course is divided into 6 Sectors. Each Sector will have a Sector Leader and these Sector Leaders will be issued a radio and will brief and deploy individual marshals to the course.

Volunteers are deployed to drinks stations on the course to ensure that runners are provided with drinks while participating in the event. Volunteers set up drink stations before the runners arrive by laying out cups and filling with water. They then provide drinks to runners, and remove empty/used cups.

Volunteers provide drinks to runners at the start line. After the long course starts, they pack up the start line drinks station and move to the finish line. At the finish line, volunteers provide drinks to runners, and remove empty/used cups.

Volunteers help direct entrants to the correct marshalling zone areas at the Start line. Each zone is clearly indicated with feather flags & signs corresponding to coloured race numbers. When the runners cross the finish line they will be exhausted and excited. They will most likely want to stop, rest and chat. This can create a very congested finish area. It is your job to congratulate and thank them but to then kindly ask them to keep moving as they need to pass through the back-up timing system to ensure their time is captured.

Volunteers assist competitors to remove their timing chips after they cross the line and collect them in the supplied tubs. Clippers will be provided.

A specific Information Tent will be set up in the Village as a central point for general questions and enquires. Some volunteers are required to staff the tent, some will be positioned on stands to help direct people and others will wander through the Village and help answer people's questions.

A fenced baggage storage area will be set up in the village with entries at one end and exits at the other. Volunteers assist with managing the flow of participants through this area.

Volunteers will be responsible for checking in all volunteers for the event and providing them with meal vouchers and tshirts.