Volunteers - heroes!
**This is a part appreciation part explainer blog post!**
Volunteers are the absolute bedrock of Big Bear Events and likely any event you’ve ever done. If it wasn’t for people willing to give back to the sport there would be no sport. Of course some events don’t have volunteers, they broadly fall in to 2 buckets. Incredibly expensive - as they’re paying lots of people or incredibly cheap (in experience more so than price!) - as it’s a bloke out the back of a 4x4 in a pub car park and not much else! For any other event from The London Marathon and the Commonwealth Games to Big Bear Events and everyone in between volunteers are essential.
Many events are run by local running clubs. Organising volunteers for these events is normally a bit of a dream as you’ve got 100’s of members willing to help out once or twice a year for their beloved club! For a “commercial” organiser like myself the dynamic is a bit different. Getting volunteers was my biggest worry setting Big Bear up 5 years ago. I was confident I’d get through the first couple of events by asking friends and family, but that isn’t a particularly sustainable model. It was that next step I was concerned about. I didn’t need to worry too much!
I’ve had the pleasure of the greatest bunch of volunteers at Big Bear. Beyond any of my expectations. I’ve not had one person I wouldn’t want back. Given the “vetting” process is “Are you free?” I’d have assumed I’d have gotten some numpties in that time but I genuinely haven’t. Not 1. This year alone I’ve already had over 95 different volunteers put on Hi-vis. 23 of those have volunteered more than once and more than a handful have helped lots more than twice. I, and every one of the runners, thanks each and every one of you. Heroes!
The volunteers set the mood and atmosphere, which is always so highly spoken of, at the events. I can have the most magical plans in the world but if the person who gives you your bib, or who you see on course or tells you were the toilets are is a miserable bastard that’s your event experience! They haven’t been though - it’s been amazing! Every single volunteer over the years has “got it” very quickly. The stalwarts who help out regularly really set the tone too and they are totally onboard with how I want a Big Bear event to be.
If you’ve been to a Big Bear Event you’ll have been registered, fed and watered by my mum and dad (Ann and Dave). The plan was for them to help for the first few events… but that was 5 years ago! They’re instrumental in setting the tone of the day for the volunteers and the runners alike. Now we’re over 50+ events in we’ve got a good process! It means I’m a lot more relaxed and those that have been with us before know the way things work. We might use 20+ venues but the set up is the same at all of them – it’s just the views that change! With a band of volunteers who have helped out before as well it means the expertise of the volunteers is really high. A dream!
If you’ve felt you wanted to give back (or feel you should!) why not come and do so at a Big Bear event? The day is quite fun, super relaxed and you’ll never be stuck at some outpost for 6 hours! To make things easier I like to administer the volunteers through a dedicated facebook group (here). If you’re not on Facebook though just send me an email if you’re able to help. I don’t need loads of volunteers normally but I like to be booked up a month or so in advance. Not only is the day good fun but you’ll also get your hands on a Big Bear drink and THE flapjack along with free entry into a similar event anytime in the future. Not to mention the karma from the running gods!
This is all a long way to say a huge, deep and heart felt thank you to everyone who has volunteered at a Big Bear event. There would be nothing without you and I hugely appreciate it. On top of that, if you fancy giving it ago, or doing it again, do it. I’m not sure anyone regrets volunteering (especially once you’ve had the flapjack!).