Hospice appeal for volunteers at the ESSAR Chester Half Marathon

A children’s hospice is appealing for volunteers to come forward to help at the upcoming ESSAR Chester Half Marathon. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

As the official race charity of all the 2023 Chester-based running events Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices help with volunteers on race day. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Taking place on 21st May, the event is one of the area’s top sporting events and attracts a crowd of thousands to the cobbled streets. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Volunteers with the hospice play an important role in making sure that all runners have the best race day experience. Volunteering is fun and rewarding, and the only skills needed is a motivating cheer and helping hands. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith fundraiser Nicola Eyes, said: “Volunteers really are the backbone of our charity. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We couldn’t put on and be part of our community events without them. At the MBNA Chester 10k in March we had a wonderful team of 30 volunteers to help out at the finish line giving out the all-important medals, t-shirts and goody bags to race finishers and also hosting our much-needed awareness stand. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It was such a great morning and an amazing event to be part of, the atmosphere was jovial and supportive. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We are always on the lookout for volunteers to help at our sporting events across, Cheshire, North and Mid Wales and Shropshire. ESSAR Chester Half Marathon is our next big event where we will once again need help at the start of the event and on the finish line. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“All volunteers receive a race t-shirt and goody bag as a thank you, as well as a warm fuzzy feeling for giving your time to support the runners and support the hospices.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Callum Shields from Active Leisure Events shares why volunteering is so important and rewarding: “Our race volunteers are simply the best volunteers in the country. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We receive phenomenal feedback from our runners, and they can’t praise and acknowledge the volunteers enough for making their race day so special. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“If you can spare the time on race day to join us it will be the best decision you make today.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

If you’d like to get involved with event volunteering, please contact nicola.eyes@hopehouse.org.uk for further information about volunteering at our sporting events. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​