Volunteers are still needed for the 32nd annual Bellin Run
GREEN BAY — A Green Bay East High School teacher is bringing much more than himself to Water Station No. 6, just a quarter mile before the Bellin Run finish line. He’s taking along almost 40 of his students to motivate and hydrate 15,000 expected participants of this year’s Bellin Run.
Scott Christy, a business education teacher and Future Business Leaders of America advisor, has been volunteering his time, and his students, at a Bellin Run water station for the last six years.
“It’s a fun community event that the students look forward to and enjoy,” said Christy. “It really is an opportunity for these kids to be a part of something much bigger than themselves.”
Christy, and social studies teacher Brian Fisk, are co-organizers of the volunteer project for the Bellin Run. With ACT testing on the same day of the Bellin Run, many upperclassmen are unavailable to volunteer. Despite this conflict, Christy and Fisk have found that underclassmen are more than willing to step in.
“When we started this program, we had to do quite a bit of encouraging to get students to sign up,” Christy said. “Now, we’re turning kids away because there’s so much interest. The Bellin Run has become an event that that students talk about for years after.”
In addition to the water and enthusiastic cheers provided by the volunteers, students decorate the street a half-block before the water station with inspirational messages for the runners and walkers.
“This year, we’ll also have 10 East High School cheerleaders cheering on the participants. With only that quarter mile left to go, we want to be that inspiration to push the participants to the finish line,” Christy said.
Many exciting volunteer opportunities are still available for Friday, June 13 and Saturday, June 14.
“Without our many volunteers, the Bellin Run couldn’t be what it is today,” said Randy Van Straten, race director of the Bellin Run. “Everyone involved, including the runners, truly appreciates the help of each and every volunteer. Plus, it’s a great way for those that can’t participate to join in the excitement.”
Volunteers are needed to help on Friday night with the Children’s Run, runner registration and the spaghetti dinner. Opportunities to help include traffic control at the Children’s Run, supervision of children’s games, serving and helping families to tables at the spaghetti dinner, directing runners through the registration process and general clean-up before the big event.
On Saturday, volunteers can join in the race activities by directing participants at the starting line, guiding runners at traffic intersections, manning water stations and meeting runners at the finish line with refreshments. Other volunteer opportunities include child supervision, first aid and cleanup.
To volunteer at this year’s Bellin Run, call the Bellin Run hotline at (920) 433-7444 and select Option 3, call Volunteer Coordinator Selys Perry at (920) 433-6092, or register online at www.bellinrun.com by clicking on the Volunteer link.
The Bellin Run, a 10K (6.2 mile) run/walk in Green Bay, Wis., is the fourth-largest timed 10K race in the nation with 12,908 participants. Established in 1977, the Bellin Run features elite runners, a children’s run, corporate challenge, running expo, all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner and a number of other events and activities for runners and their families.
This year’s 32nd annual Bellin Run is June 14, 2008. For more information, or to register, go to: www.bellinrun.com.
