Volunteers find ways to make Crim go

Making the Crim reality takes much more than a dedicated staff. It takes volunteers - folks who do things such as run the finish line, sort the records, help the children, and even dream.

Longtime race director Lois Craig worked closely with the volunteers who help with traffic control, communication, water stations and much more.

"They're the most important part of the race," she said of the more than 2,000 helpers needed during her time as chief organizer.

"Once that gun goes off, my job is basically done. ... You've got thousands of volunteers out there who are solving all the problems as the runners come by."

Anne Gault told The Journal in 1997, when she was the lead race organizer, that it took 3,000 volunteers to pull off the Crim Festival of Races.

Between 350 and 400 work traffic control and about 500 work the water stations. Registration and finish-line duties also require large groups of volunteers.

Sherlynn Everly called volunteers the backbone of the event when she was the chief organizer.

She included tasks such as
• packet stuffing;
• hospitality;
• athlete transportation;
• late registration and problem solving;
• handing out T-shirts and goodie bags;
• coordinating the expo;
• giving food, cold towels and medals at the Finish Line;
• clipping ChampionChips;
• providing medical service at the finish and on the course; • covering the Teddy Bear Trot;
• cheering on the Special Olympians;
• supervising the rides on the flat lot;
• selling tickets;
• handing out pizza, beer and sodas;
• Staffing the info tent, volunteer check-in and the Pasta Party;
• processing applications;
• setting up and tearing down; clean-up.

Some volunteers have worked the first 30 races. They include:
• Mark Bauman
• Ed and Peggy Deyo
• John Gault
• Ric Hogerheide
• Jan Nieuwenhuis
• Dr. Jon Schriner

Joining that group of known volunteers is the Downtown Flint Kiwanis Club members helped with financial assistance to start. In 1989 alone, the club gave the Crim $8,000. Club members also helped staff the Crims.

Some volunteers have formal roles - people like Brian Barkey and Pat Fizell, two of the many people featured in The Flint Journal's Sense of Community portraits.

Some "jobs" are less formal, such as providing encouragement to runners. One gospel group celebrates its 10th year at Mott Park in 2006.

A thirst to help people, means an 80-year-old gets kick out of offering water to Crim runners.