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Volunteer Opportunities
Not running the Fool's Run? Volunteer instead! It's for a good cause, and you'll earn the appreciation of the participants and organizers. You'll also get a Sunshine Coast April Fool's Run Volunteer T-shirt and the chance to win a draw prize!
Use our on-line form to apply to be a volunteer at the 2009 event. Job descriptions are given below, for those not familiar with running event volunteering. Other than the package preparation, Saturday package pickup and late registration, most jobs take place on race day.
One person can do more than one job where the times required do not overlap, for example: start area setup + package pickup + finish line helper. Please read over the descriptions on this page and choose the job(s) best suited to your abilities and interests.
2009: Race week April 1–4
Package stuffing party
Time: 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm, Tuesday March 31
Location: Halfmoon Bay (organizers' house)
Description: Stuff race bags with bib numbers, socks if ordered, and sponsor flyers or samples, etc. Snacks/beverages provided!
Number of volunteers required: 1-2
Saturday package pickup
Time: 1:30-6:00 pm, Saturday April 4
Location: Gibsons Recreation Centre, Park Road
Description: Hand out race packets (pre-stuffed), check names off a printed list. Write down any changes to participant information, on the list. Participants will form a line for package pickup, handle one at a time.
Number of volunteers required: 3
Saturday late registration
Time: 1:30-6:00 pm, Saturday April 4
Location: Gibsons Recreation Centre, Park Road
Description: Help take late registrations the day before the race. Make sure the entry form is completely filled in and signed, check the amount owing, take payment, give change if necessary, record amount and form of payment. Give the participant their bib in a race bag (pre-stuffed with coupons, instructions, etc.).
Number of volunteers required: 1
Saturday preparation of race day area
Time: 6:00-6:30 pm
Location: Gibsons Recreation Centre, Park Road
Description: Help prepare / organize remaining materials for race morning, set up water, set up chip pickup, volunteer check-in etc.
Number of volunteers required: 2-3
Race day April 5: pre-race
Course setup
Time: 5:30-8:45 am
Location: Gibsons to Davis Bay, race route
Description: Help put cones and signs along the race route. Drive a truck slowly along the route from finish to start while Larry Nightingale places 300 traffic cones along the course and distance marker signs.
Number of volunteers needed: 1
Volunteer Coordinator
Time: 7:00 am-12:30 pm
Location: Gibsons Recreation Centre, Park Road and Davis Bay
Description: Check in all volunteers, sign out safety vests and paddles (numbered), give volunteers t-shirts, info tags and basic instructions. Following the race, collect vests and paddles at the finish area and sign them back in.
Number of volunteers required: 1
Start area setup
Time: 7:00-7:30 am
Location: Gibsons Recreation Centre, Park Road
Description: Post signs outside, set up start line, parking signs.
Number of volunteers required: 4 (can also do package pickup and event day registration, see below)
Package pickup
Time: 7:30-8:45 am
Location: Gibsons Recreation Centre, Park Road
Description: Hand out race packets (pre-stuffed and sorted alphabetically). Write down any changes to participant information, on a 'changes' list. Participants will form a line for package pickup, handle one at a time.
Number of volunteers required: 4
Timing Chip handout
Time: 7:30-8:45 am
Location: Gibsons Recreation Centre, Park Road
Description: Hand out timing chips to participants. Must match up bib number to chip number (very important to get it right).
Number of volunteers required: 6
Event day registration
Time: 7:30-8:45 am
Location: Gibsons Recreation Centre, Park Road
Description: Accept day of event registrations. Make sure the entry form is completely filled in and signed, check the amount owing, take payment, give change if necessary, record amount and form of payment. Give the participant their bib #. Be able to answer basic questions (start time, location of start line, gear check). Send participants to chip pickup.
Number of volunteers needed: 1
Bus Ambassador
Time: 7:55-8:10 am
Location: Langdale Ferry Terminal
Description: Meet the foot passenger runners off the 7:20 am ferry and make sure they all get onto the school and public buses. Collect $2.25 pp from school bus riders. Instruct those who already have their race kits to take the public bus, so those who haven't got their kits or need to register can take the faster school bus. Bring bus $ back to registration area at Gibsons Community Centre.
Number of volunteers needed: 1
Gear check
Time: 7:30 am to 12:30 pm
Location: Gibsons Recreation Centre & Davis Bay
Description: Accept runners' bags for gear check (labelled with runners' bib number, a labelling system will be provided) and load into school bus. Meet bus at finish area by 9:40, unload bags and place in roughly ordered rows by bib number, in a cordoned off area. Make sure bags are attended to at all times and are available to the participants when they need them. Participants need to show their bib number to claim their tagged baggage.
Number of volunteers needed: 3-4
Race day: during race
Medical support
Time: 8:00 am to 12:30 pm
Description: (Certified in First Aid) Provide on-site medical support if needed, at start, on course and at finish area. Own vehicle required. Your expenses (gas, supplies) will be covered by the race. Honorarium available if requested. Must have cell phone so volunteers and organizers can contact you during the event.
Number of volunteers required: 3 (2 on course, 1 at finish)
Course marshal
Time: from 8:45 am, end time varies depending on location along route (finished when all runners have passed)—early route locations will be finished quite quickly.
Description: Stand at designated location to provide visibility and make sure vehicles emerging from side roads do not interfere with the runners, and in some cases to direct the runners to turn at an intersection. You will be wearing a reflective vest and in some spots have a STOP/SLOW paddle. You will sign out the vest (and paddle if applicable), be given a map showing where to go and where the runners will be on the road.
Number of volunteers required: 25 minimum
Aid stations (4)
Time: from 8:30/9:00/9:15/9:30 am until last runner passes
Locations: 1. Veterans Rd near Hwy 101; 2. Lower Road at Joe; 3. Beach near Marlene Rd; 4. Jack Road on Hwy 101 (bottom of Rat Portage Hill)
Description: Hold out paper cups of water and sports drink to passing runners who want it (they will grab the cup as they pass). Use dispensers (provided) to pre-fill a number of cups to be ready to hand out in quick succession. Collect all discarded cups into garbage bag during and afterwards. Bring drink/water dispensers, any empty bottles and extra water/cups to the finish line. Vehicle required. Aid station captain to receive or pickup supplies prior to race day.
Number of volunteers required: Minimum 6 per station—total 24. This is a great job for a family, kids (age 8 and up) can either fill cups or hand them out, under supervision.
Race Photography
Time: 8:30 am-12:30 pm
Location: Start area, on course, finish area, awards presentation
Description: Capture the excitement and spirit of race day on digital camera. See 2006 and 2007 photo galleries for examples. Photos to be provided on CD to event organizers for website posting. Honorarium provided.
Number of volunteers required: 1-2
Finish line setup
Time: 9:30-10:00 am
Location: Davis Bay
Description: Assist in setting up the finish line structure, barricades, finish chute and display clock. Must be in place before 10:00 am.
Number of volunteers required: 2
Finish line refreshments
Time: 9:30 am-12:00 noon
Location: Davis Bay
Description: Set up and maintain refreshment area at the finish. Set up tables and put out fruit, cookies, water, coffee, etc., pacing it out so the last runners get some. Fruit and bagels need to be sliced. Set up water dispenser and cups (self-serve for runners). Keep tabs on water supplies, if running low contact race director by cell phone to arrange transfer from another location.
Number of volunteers needed: 4
ChampionChip remover
Time: 10:00 am-12:30 pm
Location: Davis Bay
Description: Remove timing chips/Velcro bands from runners' ankles and put into bucket, after they have crossed the finish line (in a designated area). It's critical that ALL timing chips and Velcro bands are collected and returned to the timing company.
Number of volunteers required: 2
Finisher medal handout
Time: 10:00 am-12:30 pm
Location: Davis Bay
Description: Give a finisher's medal to each finisher as they leave the chip removal area. They MUST HAVE RETURNED THEIR CHIP to get a medal (if they still have their chip, send them back to get it removed). Relay team finishers get one medal per team member. This is a fun job, cheerful and outgoing personality suits it best!
Number of volunteers required: 2
Race day: post-race
Awards Assistant and Draw Prizes
Time: 10:00 am-12:45 pm
Location: Davis Bay
Description: Write draw prize winners on a poster board and post near awards table; hand out prizes to winners who claim them (show bib number). Assist organizers in handing out awards during ceremony. Also, collect any timing chips that were not collected at the finish line.
Number of volunteers required: 2
Course take-down
Time: 10:00 am-1:00 pm
Location: Davis Bay to Gibsons, race route
Description: Similar to course setup, only picking up all signs, tables and cones from finish to start.
Number of volunteers required: 1
Finish Line clean-up
Time: 12:30-2:00 pm
Location: Davis Bay
Description: Pack up all materials, tents, tables, cones, finish structure, etc. and load into vehicles.
Number of volunteers required: 5