RVM Needs You!
In-person events are back and that means there are numerous volunteer opportunities available.
The Royal Victoria Marathon (RVM) traditionally has over 1,500 volunteers over race weekend but for the scaled-down event this year approximately 400 will be required. Over 4,500 runners will lace-up on Sunday, October 10 for the Half Marathon
and 8K (the Marathon distance and the Thrifty Foods Kids Run will return in 2022). With RVM cancelled last year there is pentup excitement amongst participants and volunteers to get involved in a live event.
The organizing committee – under the expert guidance of race director, Cathy Noel
– continued to hold their monthly meetings by zoom over the past few months and when the live event was announced in June, the volunteer planning began. The race won’t have a race expo as in previous years and the finish line logistics will be adjusted to adhere to the PHO COVID guidelines. But volunteers are still needed in key areas to ensure the event runs smoothly.
“Teams, companies, and organizations are most welcome to sign up for group locations like the water stations and marshal zones. No experience necessary,” says volunteer
coordinator, Steve Duck. Start and finish line volunteers are also needed for the weekend to assist set up on the Saturday as well as tear down on the Sunday. In prior years there has been a volunteer orientation meeting held a week before the race, but this year a volunteer information package and video instruction will be distributed through volunteer area managers.
In 2019 Peninsula Co-op came on board as sponsor of the volunteer program, decking out volunteers with distinctive t-shirts and woolen toques. “As a proud Vancouver Island company, we recognize that our community is only as strong as the people within it. Peninsula Co-op acknowledges and celebrates the hundreds of volunteers who are helping to bring the Royal Victoria Marathon back, and re-connecting people with their passion,” says, Lindsay Gaudette, Director of Marketing & Community Relations.
Many volunteers come back year after year. For them volunteering on Thanksgiving Weekend is a tradition. Before she moved to Victoria from Ottawa Eileen Bancroft visited her mother and sister every Thanksgiving, volunteering on the finish line. In 2014 she joined the organizing committee. “I was one year at gear check and the rest at the finish line. I enjoy seeing all the participants as they finish and have a sense of accomplishment keeping them safe during the final kilometres of the race.”
This year will be Lynn Ross’s 22nd year volunteering. She oversaw race package pick-up for 16 years and since then (although not this year with no expo) Conference Centre Manager. “I’m proud to be part of the organizing committee and over the years I’ve had some great experiences and met some amazing people. Feeling the positive energy from everyone involved – participants, volunteers, exhibitors, spectators, etc. – is contagious.”
If you are interested in joining the Peninsula Co-op RVM Volunteer Crew go to runvictoriamarathon.com/volunteer or email volunteer@runvictoriamarathon.com