URUNGA parkrun is taking the National Volunteer Week 2023 (15-21 May) theme of Change Makers as an inspiration to encourage people to come along to one of their meets and consider volunteering.

Urunga parkrun, part of the international running organisation, takes place every Saturday at 7am at Urunga boardwalk foreshore and is free to join.

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Having launched on 14 October 2017, the local running event is a volunteering success story.

Pim and Matt Heaney, volunteer Event Directors at Urunga parkrun, share the numbers.

“During that time, 216 different people have volunteered at Urunga parkrun, carrying out a combined total of 1704 different volunteer roles,” Pim told News Of The Area.

“Their volunteer contribution has supported 2445 people to complete the five kilometre course on 8630 occasions.

“What’s more, 214 people who have completed Urunga parkrun did fewer than 30 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly when they first signed up with parkrun.”

This means local volunteers are increasingly supporting people to take the first steps in their physical activity journey, which has major health and economic impacts for the community.

“parkrun is a great way to start your weekend right,” Pim said.

“Whether it’s as a volunteer, walker, jogger, runner or spectator.

“I’ve met wonderful people that I would never have known if it were not for parkrun.

“I count them now as friends.

“It’s so good to see people work towards and achieve their own goals,” said Pim.

People can walk or run the five kilometre course, help out as volunteers, spectate and socialise.

Participants can push a pram, bring their dog on a short lead or take part with their family.

There is no time limit and nobody finishes last, thanks to volunteer ‘Tail Walkers’ who provide support and encouragement on the course, bringing up the rear.

“All the volunteer roles are super simple and there are a wide variety of opportunities, from welcoming first timers to marshalling on the course to handing out finish tokens as people finish the five kilometres.

“We even have volunteers during the week, for example who coordinate our volunteer roster and post on our social media channels.

“Our volunteer roster is never full and there is a role to suit everyone,” said Pim
If you are interested in volunteering you can email the team at urunga@parkrun.com, message them through the Urunga parkrun Facebook page, or simply come along on a Saturday morning.

By Andrea FERRARI