Parkrun volunteers
The Parkrun volunteers have been nominated for Sports Volunteer of the year.
About
Since 2016 the global Parkrun has been on Guernsey, taking place at Pembroke Bay.
Event director Lorna O’Donnell brought the event to the island after being inspired by the Parkruns in the UK.
At the start Parkrun only had around 70 people coming weekly, it now has over 200, for four-year-olds to 80-year-olds.
‘The organisation is entirely run by volunteers, without them it wouldn’t happen,’ said their nominator, who would like to remain anonymous.
‘They give up their time to put on the event – and often in dreadful weather.'
A core team of six Parkrun directors take it in turns leading each Parkrun and every week around 20 volunteers are needed to fill key roles.
‘Most volunteers come from the beef of the Parkrunners but anyone in the community can help,’ said Mrs O’Donnell.
The volunteers are always changing week by week, with some coming from overseas, who turn up to offer their help.
‘Parkrun is so important for so many people for physical and mental health,’ said the nominator, who has been part of Parkrun for around eight years.
'I damaged my back a couple years ago and if it hadn’t been for Parkrun I wouldn’t have got back into running,’ they added.
Mrs O’Donnell said: ‘It’s lovely to be recognised when it’s something you do week-in and week-out.'
