When and why did you first choose to volunteer with parkrun?
My sister in law Carol Gorton kept asking myself, my husband Andy Gorton and sister and brother in law Jean and John Jellicoe to come and see what parkrun was all about, that was in 2013 as I was not a runner, I said I would help out. I think my first volunteer position was scanning. Which I did with the help of Carols guidance, as I thought at the time was a very scary job. I also help with token sorting when we went for breakfast to process the results at the waterside.
Which is your favourite volunteer role at parkrun?
My favourite volunteer position is scanning and I boast I am the fastest scanner in the northwest. I have volunteered about 188 times, I now leave it till Thursday before putting my name forward as I don’t want to always take a position, when others might want to have a go and help. I am still there helping in other ways if I can, but I am not always on the roster (always there as my other half runs). I have tried to run but it’s not my thing (11 runs in 7 years of park run). I know over the years I have meet lots of people and there have been times when out and about you bump into people and they let on. At first you can’t place them but 9 times out of 10 I have probably scanned them at parkrun.
What would you say to someone who is unsure if volunteering is for them?
It’s a great team and you would be felt welcomed from the start. All the runners appreciate every volunteer and you are thanked on numerous occasions. Nothing can go wrong, it can always be fixed.
What are you doing when you're not at parkrun?
Short break holiday or main holiday. I'm there most weeks as it’s now become a family thing as my son Adam Gorton has now got the parkrun bug and it’s also a chance to catch up and go for breakfast after.
What song would be your parkrun anthem (either for volunteering or walk/jog/running)?
Count on me (Bruno Mars)
