Grays woman marks 15 years of volunteering for cancer charity
A GRAYS woman has spoken about the motivation that will see her take part in her fifteenth flagship awareness event later this year.
Ahead of International Women's Day on Saturday, 8 March, the spotlight has been turned on the dedicated woman who has been volunteering for a cancer charity since 2010.
Caz Bartholomew donates her time at Walk the Walk's flagship event, The MoonWalk, London, which takes places this year at Clapham Common on Saturday, 17 May.
Caz takes up the story: "I'll be volunteering for the 15th time at The MoonWalk London this year - I absolutely love it and have no plans to stop anytime soon.
"It's a wonderful feeling helping to make such an iconic event run smoothly – but it's also a lot of fun and has definitely made me a better person.
"I first got involved with The MoonWalk London – organised by cancer charity Walk the Walk – after my Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer. I wanted to do something to support her and walked the Half Marathon in 2009.
"I loved the event, but sadly, I was already having problems with my knees and knew that I wouldn't be able to walk that distance again.
"However, I still wanted to be part of The MoonWalk and someone in the Walk the Walk office suggested that I should try volunteering instead.
"MoonWalk London 2010 was the start of my very long volunteering journey with the charity!
"Walk the Walk are able to accommodate everyone's needs – I can't stand on tarmac for hours, so I don't marshal out on the course. Instead, I'm part of the directional team every year at the start/finish area at Clapham Common.
"I lead the team which welcomes all our wonderful MoonWalkers onto the site – we are the first people they see after the gates open. We show walkers where to go and take photos of them, but we also talk to many of them – reassuring them, listening to their stories and calming them down if it's their first time.
"It's humbling to know that we're helping people and they are really appreciative.
Since I first volunteered, I've only missed one MoonWalk – in 2017, when both my then partner John and my mum died within just weeks of each other.
"John used to volunteer with me and now my new husband Darren does as well!
"Once he realised how much volunteering at The MoonWalk means to me, he was happy to sign up and literally do anything.
"I'll keep helping out as long as Walk the Walk need me.
"Coming back year after year, it feels like I'm meeting up with family. We catch up with old friends, but are constantly making new friends too, which is wonderful. Darren and I even plan our holidays around The MoonWalk!
"I do volunteer at some other events – including cycling and running events in London and I was also a volunteer at the Olympics. But helping out at The MoonWalk is what started everything for me and it's what keeps my volunteering journey going.
"My message to anyone thinking about volunteering at a MoonWalk is to give it a try!
"There are so many different roles – there really is something for everyone. If you need to sit down, you can be in the Volunteer Tent, helping to register people as they arrive.
"You could marshal out on the route and cheer on the walkers – or be a volunteer driver or cycle marshal. You can hand out water or help run the baggage tent.
"Whatever role you do, you can be so proud of yourself - volunteering is something which you can add to your CV and which might actually open more doors for you.
"It will change you forever - it's certainly changed me and has made me more confident and willing to put myself out there. It's life-changing being part of The MoonWalk, either as a walker or a volunteer, and in my case, volunteering. I'd recommend it to anyone.".
There are a variety of different volunteering roles available at The MoonWalk London including route marshal, cyclist, driver, call centre, directional team, entrance gate, start line, service stations, clean and recycling.
Register now as a volunteer for The MoonWalk London on Sat 17th May at www.walkthewalk.org/volunteer
Share:
