Constituency Matters

Councillor Gary Malcolm, Lib Dem group leader Ealing Borough Council

THIS year’s Ealing half marathon was another great event.

Thousands of runners giving their all to raise money for good causes or to challenge themselves to do something that is not as simple as it seems. In addition to the runners there were around 700 volunteers helping to ensure the event was set up before the runners turned up, giving out water to runners, ensuring roads were closed off during the day, handing out medals to the finishers and cleaning up afterwards.

I volunteered at the St John’s Church water station, West Ealing, handing out water to the many of the runners. As the water station was sited near the end of the race many of those wanting water were very much in need and tired.

They were only a few minutes from the end, but a kilometre seems a long, long way when you have run more than 12 miles.

I was very inspired to see the huge numbers of runners going past and cheering them on as some looked like they needed a real morale boost. I recognised lots of friends running and I hope the volunteers at the station really helped to motivate them.

Despite the fact some of the roads are closed for the day’s events and some people did not want some streets closed, the Lib Dems believe that events like the Ealing Half Marathon or similar cycling or sporting events should be held to encourage people to become fitter.

It was a great event where people from different parts of the area came together to run a wonderful sporting event.

A note in the diary for next year is Sunday September 27, when the event takes place. If you would like to volunteer or find out more about the event, visit: www.ealinghalfmarathon.com /take-part/.

Since I became a volunteer this year, it meant that I can enter the race for free in 2020. I have already signed up and now I have to plan my training regime so I can be fit enough to run distances greater than the 5k parkruns I do each month.

It was wonderfully motivating when all of the volunteers including myself received a medal of recognition for the work done on the event this year. I hope the 2020 event goes as well as this year’s did.