August 16, 2016

by: Renee Canfield

Fresh Eyes on the Impact of Volunteerism at the Cleveland Tri

Pulling up to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for the 2016 Cleveland Triathlon with the sun yet to rise, I officially recognized I was not a morning person. However, it didn’t take long for my perspective on this special morning to change. I watched the participants warm up with a lot of respect for the hard work they had put in to get to this race, because I could barely wake up, none the less finish a triathlon! Between seeing the excitement of our UCP families and sharing “good morning’s!” with our amazing volunteers, the positive attitude was contagious. It was great to see all the volunteers so willing and flexible to help in any way possible. My job was to capture all of this energy in photographs, and it was an easy job when I watched Devan singing the national anthem. This was Team Devan’s 6^th year participating in the triathlon, alongside other UCP families. With athletes, families, and volunteers surrounding Devan with smiles on their faces, it gave me goose bumps. Before the race had even gotten underway, I learned how rewarding volunteering with UCP and the Cleveland Triathlon truly was!

As the race progressed, I stood at the finish line with admiration for every person to cross the finish line. However, when our clients came running, walking, or rolling towards the finish line it captured everyone’s attention. The crowd roared, families high fived, and volunteers and clients were quickly handing off water bottles with a smile of appreciation for the overwhelming feeling of joy those families had given to every person at the race. Watching our clients overcome their disabilities alongside their families, left an impact that reached beyond the immediate families.

The definition of a volunteer is a person who offers himself or herself for a service or task. However, once I volunteered at this race I redefined that definition, because this wasn’t a task, it was an incredible experience that left my heart full. I got goose bumps and a smile stretched across my face every time I saw one of our families cross the finish line because it held more significance to our UCP Teams than even I could understand. Being a first time volunteer with UCP at the Cleveland Triathlon left me filled with joy and I look forward to volunteering at this event for years to come!

Kathryn Hoots, Development Intern

Kathryn interned with the UCP of Greater Cleveland Development Department this summer and had the opportunity to attend the Cleveland Triathlon as a volunteer staff member.

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