Saying thanks is just the beginning.
Last month, AURA put an urgent call out for volunteers to put their hands up and assist in some roles within the organisation. It truly brought to light how important people’s dedication to the sport is when it comes to keeping alive a history and future for ultra running, because frankly, without the efforts of those who put in hundreds of hours of their own time, organisations like AURA would cease to exist.
Personally, I’ve always been a strong believer in volunteering and giving back to a community which has provided so much for me. Perhaps not so much as a child, but certainly from my 20s I was an active volunteer with animal welfare groups, and then put my career skills to good use providing pro bono work to particular animal shelters across WA, implementing and providing the foundations of online marketing and social media platforms for these not-for-profits to grow.
As I moved away from animal welfare once my family began to grow, that’s when running became an integral part of my life. After a couple years learning the ropes within the running community, I put my hand up more and more when it came to volunteering at my local parkrun, until eventually I had the courage to get back into a leadership position and become a run director.
The rewards of doing so, of giving back, have been tenfold. And the same can be said for AURA. When you raise your hand for even the smallest of roles, it leads to incredibly growth within yourself and the organisation, and you help lighten the load off those who tirelessly work around the clock to keep AURA going. It’s the same when events require volunteers to command aid stations, or set up the start and finish lines, or pack up at the end of the day.
Without volunteers, your events – yes, because they are for you – would not, and could not, happen. So I’m sure I speak for many when I say thank you to all those who have put in the hard yards thus far to keep AURA moving forward and supporting a sport we all love.
