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by Cindy Abole, Public Relations

Each February, sections of MUSC's Wellness Center resemble a small factory more than a state-of-the-art fitness center. People mill around boxes and tables stacked high with papers, brochures, and other materials, all of them volunteers in one of the holy city's most exciting annual events.

Like a hub in a wheel, these volunteers play an integral role to the yearly success of the Cooper River Bridge Run.

“Each year, the race continues to grow larger, requiring a need for additional help,” said Mary Ellen Lenhardt, volunteer coordinator for the event. “Creating the race packets is a tremendous part of the race.”

Lenhardt, who has supported the race since 1995, organizes more than 1,500 volunteers who support the Cooper River Bridge Run. Throughout the year, she is responsible for coordinating volunteers for all pre-race and race-day-related activities.

Each fall, bridge run organizers begin collecting items from race sponsors to insert into 30,000 runner/walker packets. Items often include pamphlets, brochures, coupons and product samples.

In February, she directs packet stuffing, mail-out, pick-up, plus organizes the Bridge Run Exposition which is usually held the day prior to the event. On race day, Lenhardt coordinates volunteers working at the race starting line, finish line, food, aid and water stations and bus loading.

In years past, race volunteers were recruited from all branches of the community. Starting this year, Lenhardt chose to direct her promotion efforts to attract a younger generation of volunteers. In January, she distributed flyers to area schools, specifically including a mailing to Charleston County high schools and middle schools, local colleges and private institutions.

The response was tremendous.

“Volunteering creates enthusiasm for participating students,” Lenhardt said. “It lets them see first hand everything that's behind-the-scenes in organizing a production of this scale.”

History teacher Kevin Kelly of Buist Academy led an enthusiastic group of middle school students to the Student Wellness Center during the race's volunteer day in mid-February. As members of the school's running club, the students were familiar with this annual event.

“Their age is prime for learning,” Kelly said. “It shows them that volunteering is a part of life.” Tutti Beasley also responded to the call. She arranged for a dozen James Island High School students with special needs to stuff race packets for two volunteer days. “For a job that might seem so mundane to others, the experience was really pleasurable for them,” said Beasley with a smile. Beasley is a special needs coordinator at James Island, Wando and St. Johns High Schools in Charleston County. “Although there might be some limitations in what some of these students can do, their participation in a community volunteer project of this caliber has really helped raise their self esteem,” she said.

MUSC students also were responsive to the call for volunteers. More than 60 students representing the colleges of Health Professions, Medicine, Pharmacy, Graduate Studies and Nursing participated in February's Volunteer Day.

Retirees assist during race preparations

In a new direction, elderly residents of Ashley Terrace helped initiate a new community volunteer project by providing race support. When resident services director Chloe Bray first learned about the call for bridge run volunteers, she contacted Lenhardt to express their desire to help.

“Our group has done other successful things within the community,” said Bray, referring to a successful winter arts and crafts project which they just completed. “When the idea of lending support to the bridge run surfaced, everyone was interested in lending their support.”

Since most of the Ashley Terrace residents are unable to travel, Bray and Lenhardt devised the idea for creating a satellite packet stuffing location at their location. Bray was able to transform a recreation center into a temporary assembly line of activity. “Our residents were looking for something to do,” Bray responded. “This experience has worked out smoothly.”

Lenhardt is proud of the ongoing volunteer efforts. “Our packet stuffing is a tremendous undertaking that could not be made possible without help from volunteers,” she said with admiration. All race volunteers are reciprocated for their hard work by receiving a commemorative bridge run poster and race T-shirt, courtesy of the CRBR organizers. For more information, contact Lenhardt at 792-6610.

For race information, check out the website at <http://www.bridgerun.com/#packet>