By: Ellie McCartney
Without the help of volunteers in the community, the Glowing “O” 5K Run would be a thing of the past.
Five years in the making, the very first Glowing “O” 5K Run started with 35 participants. Flashing forward to last year’s numbers, the 5K run has grown to 153 participants.
Volunteers make up at least 30 workers at the event and play a large role in ensuring the success of the event and safety of participants.
“Volunteers are hands down critical to an event like this,” said Daniel Brooks, a Graduate Assistant for the UNO Wellness Center.
With a limited to no budget, the organizers in charge of the Glowing “O” 5K Run have the challenge of finding ways to break even and/or make a profit that goes back into campus recreation said Brooks.
In other words, the event relies heavily on finding volunteers like Renata Valquier Chavez who are willing to help run the event.
“I’m just out here with my cross-country team trying to prompt fitness and to help out the glow run,” said Chavez.
Through the help of athletics, volunteers and other organizations on campus, the 5K event brings people together both on and off campus for one night of glowing fun.
“I think it’s important to have these kinds of events because it’s a good way to meet new people and encourage fitness in the community,” said Isaac Shields, a participant at the Glowing “O” 5K Run.
As a graduate assistant, Brooks is responsible for planning the event, confirming the route with public safety and road closures, and making sure that the dates and times of the event are known to everybody.
“Truly it’s a development for the graduate assistants, the coolest parts about this is that each graduate assistant is truly involved and dedicated to making this a success,” said Brooks.
The final numbers for the 5 annual Glowing “O” 5K Run were 113 participants said Brooks.
