The Augusta Sports Council is seeking over 1,500 volunteers for the 14th edition of the IRONMAN 70.3 Triathlon occurring on Sunday, Sept. 24.
Working to create positive, substantial change within communities where events are held, the IRONMAN Foundation provides an opportunity for athletes to showcase charitable support to a variety of local nonprofit organizations who recognize citizens in need and provide aid.
“The IRONMAN Foundation is thrilled to support deserving organizations within the Augusta region, and will be awarding $20,000 in grant funding this year to nonprofits with a volunteerism component,” according to a press release from the Augusta Sports Council. “To date, the IRONMAN Foundation has provided over $237,000 in charitable giveback to more than 170 organizations in the Augusta area.”
Volunteer opportunities will include a variety of task options and will start mid-week prior to the race and conclude Monday post-race. Possible volunteer activities will include: goodie bag stuffing, athlete registration, water stations for the bike and run course, transition areas for the swim start, bike check-in, finish line support and much more.
“There’s lots of opportunities for individuals and groups as well,” said IRONMAN 70.3 Volunteer Director and Committee Affairs Coordinator of the Augusta Sports Council Heather O’Brien. “I’ve been a long-time volunteer myself well before I became the volunteer director … IRONMAN is very fortunate to be one of the national races that have a lot of returning volunteers.”
O’Brien said she believed returning captain volunteers were drawn back every year.
“They said being around the athletes and the other volunteers is such a rewarding experience, because you’re seeing moments of someone else’s life where they are experiencing sheer excitement, relief, and exhaustion,” she said. “When the athletes cross the finish line, [volunteers] are one of the first individuals that they see, and that are there to support them by catching them or giving them water.”
To O’Brien, volunteering is all about supporting another in a grand moment of their life where they are accomplishing a goal for the good of their community.
“The volunteers say they love the experience of being in that environment and being able to hear the story at the end from the athlete,” she said. “They hear how an athlete has been training for this for years, or how they overcame some kind of obstacle in order to get to this point, or this was an item off their lifelong list that they always wanted to accomplish – of course, not everyone’s reasons or experience will be exact same, but I do find those reasons are a common thread.”
As an experienced volunteer for many other races and contributions, O’Brien said she has always found that offering one’s services to better their community gives a person incredible satisfaction. In other words, whether one is an athlete, a member of the benefitted community, an organizer or a volunteer, it is a win-win situation for all parties involved.
“It’s a way to give back to the community where you are valued in a manner that is unparalleled. You are wanted and given the opportunity to choose your own experience,” she said. “It usually speaks to people somehow; it fulfills some meaning in one’s life. Not everyone is able to work in something they are passionate about, so volunteerism really fills that need or that spot in people’s life, where they are truly passionate about something they want to be a part of – even if it’s just for a moment.”
For those looking to experience a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” it has the possibility to “truly add to one’s life,” O’Brien said the IRONMAN 70.3 is especially looking to obtain some groups of at least 20 individuals.
“Groups of 20 or more are particularly important because they are eligible to apply for an IRONMAN Foundation grant following their volunteer service,” she said. “That means they can apply for a few hundred to potentially up to a $1000 to take back for their organization or nonprofit, depending on their commitment … it’s a way for the IRONMAN Foundation to express to volunteers just how crucial their involvement is for events like this.”
Groups looking to apply for a grant after volunteering have to be affiliated with an organization, and one member has to commit to act as a point of contact or be the team captain. The team captain will have to attend different meetings in preparation for race day, and will receive special, complimentary gear to wear to represent their role in taking on extra tasks.
With different options of time commitments, O’Brien said volunteers can select whichever role will work best with their schedule; shifts can vary from as little as two to four hours or can last the entire day. To see what opportunities are available, those interested can sign-up online or email O’Brien to ask more questions about IRONMAN 70.3.
“Without the volunteers, the athletes wouldn’t be able to have that life changing experience,” said O’Brien. “Without volunteers, these special moments wouldn’t be possible. The athletes wouldn’t have the ability to complete these goals in life without the people behind them or on the sidelines to encourage them.”
Volunteers can sign up for different opportunities at https://ironman.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=68314
For more information about group opportunities or the IRONMAN Foundation Volunteerism Program, please contact the Volunteer Director by email at im70.3augusta@augustavolunteers.com
To find further information about the IRONMAN Foundation, visit: www.ironmanfoundation.org
