Volunteering can do a body good

The runner’s heart gave out as he neared the finish line of the 2016 Maui Half Marathon.

For all intents and purposes, the Haiku doctor was dead as a trio of fellow runners knelt beside him on Kaanapali Parkway and performed CPR. Within minutes, the event’s volunteer medical staff was on the scene with a defibrillator. The device and the staff’s expert care proved the difference between Barry Sultanoff dying and living.

“The medics saved my life,” Sultanoff said after completing the next year’s 5K. “Imagine how grateful I feel to the team that was here and saved my life.”

Some of those volunteers are expected to be back in the finish line’s medical tent Sunday as the annual Maui Marathon celebrates its 50th year. Assisting them will be medical volunteers stationed along the course and roaming in two vans.

As with so many island events, activities and agencies, volunteers play a crucial role in making the marathon happen.

“We couldn’t do it without them,” says race course director Jim Lynch.

More than 200 are expected to help with the marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K. They’ll be handing out water and energy bars in front of the 16 aid stations, pounding taiko drums to give weary runners a lift, and breaking down the finish area once the races are done.

It is fitting that Sunday’s event occurs after the conclusion of National Volunteer Week. On Maui, every week is volunteer week. From feeding the homeless and visiting homebound seniors, to picking up litter and officiating youth sports, volunteers make this island tick. We’d be lost without them.

Working for this newspaper, we regularly see volunteers in action. They fill a variety of roles, but all seem to share a thing in common. They smile a lot. Obviously, it feels good to help others, to be part of a team working toward the greater good.

Nearly every culture has its own version of the saying: “It is better to give than receive.” Numerous studies and reports back that up, including a recent one by the Mayo Clinic that says volunteerism improves physical and mental health.

“Volunteering reduces stress and increases positive, relaxed feelings by releasing dopamine,” said the 2021 report from the Mayo Clinic Health System.

It said volunteers gain a sense of purpose by doing work that is meaningful. This boosts their life satisfaction and self-esteem. Participating in a shared activity is also a great way to nurture relationships.

“Volunteering increases social interaction and helps build a support system based on common interests,” the report said.

Marathoners talk about the “runner’s high” they feel after a good run. Volunteers enjoy a similar lift.

If you are currently a volunteer, thank you. If not, you may want to give it a try. The spirits you lift could be your own. One good way to learn about volunteer opportunities on Maui is to visit www.handsonmaui.com.