Volunteer Duties

The following are the volunteer opportunities, the times and the number of people needed per shift. When you register to volunteer, please specify which one of these opportunities you prefer. If you have any questions, please email raceforhopevolunteers@gmail.com.

Race Day Duties

Pre-Race

Race Set-Up - 50 people
Time: 6:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Location: Freedom Plaza
Description: Set-up tables, tents, chairs, trash cans, hang banners and install fencing for the Race. This activity may require some heavy lifting (40-60 lbs). Following set-up, assist at the registration tent, survivor tent and other locations, as needed.  

Gear Check - 6 people
Time: 6:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Location: West end of Freedom Plaza
Description: Before registration opens, you will set up tables, display signs, and prepare the gear check. You will handle bag collection and bag organization, which requires sorting them numerically by bib number. Volunteers assure bags are attended to at all times and are available to participants after the race. 

Registration Tent - 40 people
Time: 6:30 AM - 9:30 AM 
Location: Pennsylvania Ave., just south of Freedom Plaza 
Description: Are you a cool, calm, detail-oriented person who works well under pressure? Then help us with registration! Become a line manager. You will distribute runners' bib numbers and timing devices, hand out T-shirts, answer questions, accept registration forms and fees, collect pledges, assign Race numbers. You will be given a brief training session so you know exactly what to do, and staff will be available during the registration and packet pickup.  At 9:00am, help pack up the leftover items in the registration tent.  

Race Day Ambassadors- 20 people
Time: 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM 
Location: Freedom Plaza area
Description: As Race Ambassadors, you will be supplied with maps and information to help answer questions, provide directions, and cheerfully get people where they need to go.

During Race

Survivor Tent and Survivor Tribute- 20 people 
Time: 6:30 AM - 10:00 AM 
Location: Freedom Plaza 
Description: The survivor tent is a special area welcoming brain tumor survivors, their friends and families. You will help with tent logistics, including crowd control, the Survivor Tribute, and greeting the Survivors and their families.  Following the Survivor Tribute, you will assist in taking down tables and moving chairs.  

Water Station - 25 people 
Time: 7 AM - 10:30 AM 
Description: You will fill and hand out cups of water to runners as they run by. After runners go by, you will clean up the station by raking up cups and filling trash bags. Race staff will drop off and pick up supplies before and after the Race. Race staff will assist you with station set-up and Race-day training.

Course Marshals - 25 people
Time: 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Description: You will spread out over the entire course, help set-up barricades and cones, and monitor turns and intersections. Marshals cheer the runners and walkers, and especially our Survivors, help runners stay on course, keep cars off the course, and maintain course safety during the event.  

Start and Finish Line - 40 people
Time: 8:00AM - 11:00 AM
Description: You will help with any of the following – helping runners and walkers line up before the race, separating the runners from the walkers, provide course marshal assistance in the first quarter mile of the course, secure the finish line by moving barricades, cheer participants (especially Survivors) as they cross the finish line, assist with identifying Survivors for the race announcer, and assist with crowd control near the Survivor tent and at the finish line.  

Post-Race

Refreshments - 20 people 
Time: 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM 
Location: Pennsylvania Ave. south of Freedom Plaza 
Description: You will prepare and serve the post-Race refreshments of bananas, apples, bagels, etc., and help with clean up after the race.

Kids' Fun Run - 50 people 
Time: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM 
Location: Start/Finish Line 
Description: Volunteers cheer on our youngest athletes, while also assisting with course logistics. You will also hand out a medal to each child who crosses the finish line.  This volunteer activity can be combined with any of the volunteer opportunities listed above. 

Race Tear-Down - 45 people
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:45 AM 
Location: Freedom Plaza 
Description: Following the Race, all materials will be broken down and loaded on trucks for return and storage. Volunteers break-down tables, tents, chairs, trash cans, banners, and fencing. This activity may require some heavy lifting (40-60 lbs). This is a perfect opportunity for volunteers who like to sleep late but still participate in one of the most important parts of the Race!