Behind the Finish Line: My Marathon Volunteer Experience

By: Diana H. Zhao

When I volunteered at the charity marathon, I thought it would just be another early morning event. I didn’t expect it to be such a fun and inspiring experience. I signed up to help out and earn some service hours, but I ended up learning how powerful teamwork, encouragement, and kindness can be. From setting up the inflatables and helping kids, I learned that helping others can be just as rewarding as running the race itself. 

The event started early in the morning. The sky was still gray when I arrived, but the energy was already bright and loud. CYOC’s team was setting up where the marathon would start and helping with the marathon itself. Everyone was smiling and ready to help. 

I was assigned to the inflatables station. There were all sorts of inflatables, for example, bouncy houses, and one of the bouncy houses had a slide inside. There was even a small one for the baby/ toddlers! The biggest and tallest at the station was the Roblox slide. It looked terrifying at first, but once you go on it, it’s a lot of fun. The slide was also the most popular inflatable out of the 4. Some runners even thanked us between gasps for air, which made us feel part of something special. Even though we were a little tired, the excitement of being part of something big made it easy to stay positive. 

The event was special because it partnered with CYOC’s Help, an organization that supports young people and community service projects. Working with CYOC made the experience even more powerful because we weren’t just volunteering alone—we were part of a bigger team working together to make a difference.

Volunteering at the charity marathon with CYOC’s help was an experience I’ll never forget. It showed me how teamwork and kindness can bring people together for a great cause. I learned that even small actions, like handing out water or cheering someone on, can make a big impact. Most of all, it reminded me that helping others feels just as good as crossing the finish line yourself.