HOPE AND DREAM TEAM BEHIND THE SCENE
MAIREAD KEHOE
My name is Mairead Kehoe. I have been involved in the Hope & Dream for 5 years now. I assist Graphedia with updating the website and I am part of the social media team who looks after updating social media.
I also help out with the organization of marshals and ensuring people know where they are being placed. Once the marshals are organized, I work on the finish line and hand out water, bananas etc to all participants. However I think my most valued job, along with my sidekick Sarah Rossiter is we make the all important sausage sandwich’s and coffee/tea for the men who start in the early hours to get the finish line ready. We are always welcomed with open arms when we arrive down with the brekkie to start our own shift for the day. Those men love their sausage sandwiches!
I am also involved in working with the leaders and organizing different events/ meet ups for them throughout their training. It is such an unbelievable buzz on the day and with the build up, I really love being involved. You can’t describe the atmosphere on the prom on race day and it really needs to be experienced to be believed. So for anyone who hasn’t registered yet....DO IT.
SARAH ROSSITER
My name is Sarah Rossiter. I have been involved with the organising committee for Hope & Dream for the past 4 years. I became involved when one of my best friends asked me “did I fancy giving her a hand with something small”. Well it’s not that Mrs Kehoe, it’s anything but!! Little did I know it would be one of the most rewarding things I have ever done.
Over the past few years I have been involved with everything from gathering articles each week for the newspaper, helping organise stewards for the event, updating social media sites and volunteering both in the Presentation Centre and on the day of the race.
Race day starts around 7am. I make my way to my friends house and we put together some food for the volunteers who start work at 5am. A cup of tea and a sandwich always goes down well after a hard mornings work for the guys who come in that early to set up.
Then comes helping out organising our stewards, giving directions on where they are to go and what needs to be done.
When the race sets off I head to the finish line where work is just beginning. Boxes of bananas and bottles of water need to be sorted to be handed to each person who crosses the line.
We don’t leave the line until the last person doing the race gets home safely. The atmosphere between volunteers and participants is just fantastic.
Looking forward to April 5 see you all on the start line.
JIM DOYLE
My name is Jim Doyle. I am Head Marshall for the Hope & Dream event and assist with all the preparation coming up to race day. I help set out the route, erect the barriers, railings, cones, tents etc.
A team of us work together to ensure we have adequate marshall’s on the route and that all of them are prepped on what is expected of them for the day.
After the race I also work as part of the team that ensures the prom is left as we found it before the race and everything is returned to its rightful owner. It’s an early start at 5am but such an enjoyable day to be a part of.
SYL HIPWELL
My name is Syl Hipwell. I am the safety officer for the Hope & Dream 10 and ensure that all safety elements are met and insurance and Co Council requests are adhered to. In my day job I am an inspector with the Garda Siochana so through this I assist with ensuring full time security for the registration in the Presentation Centre and the security of all the funds raised. I slog with several members of an Garda Siochana who are on the route on the day, marshalling and overseeing race proceedings. I also work with the team placing marshall’s and provide the safety briefing on the morning. It is such a great event and I thoroughly enjoy being involved with it.
JOHN BENNETT
My name is John Bennett. I work as part of the team that gets the route and the start/finish ready on race day. I ensure railings, cones etc are out where needed, water stops are set up and tents and the stage coach are in the correct location. I look after getting motor bikes on board to circle the route and I am heavily involved in traffic handling and safety on the day. I also assist with dismantling the race set up area and ensuring railings, cones etc are returned to the correct parties. I have been involved since the beginning of the Hope & Dream and love the craic in the build up and on race day.
GER BENNETT
My name is Ger Bennett. I work along side the other lads as part of the set up team on the morning of the race. I help erect tents, set out barriers etc and circle the route ensuring cones, signs etc are in the correct places and the water stops are set up.
I also dismantle everything after the race and ensure the prom is left tidy.