On Sunday, September 8th, from 6 A.M. to 10:30 A.M., members of AYLUS Roslyn Branch Volunteered at the 46th Annual New Hyde Park Mineola Runners 8k event. This event was hosted by the New Hyde Park- Mineola Runner’s Club (NHP-M RC). NHP-M RC is one of the oldest clubs on Long Island founded in 1976 by George Erkman. George’s goal was to create a welcoming social environment promoting a positive atmosphere for running.
The New Hyde Park Mineola Runners 8k is an exciting community event that brings runners of all ages to a fun and challenging race. This run, held annually is an 8-kilometer run that takes the runners through the winding suburban streets of New Hyde Park. This year’s run honors our 9/11 heroes and all who protect and serve. It doesn’t matter if you want to walk or run, the race is a great way to stay active and support local charities and organizations.
As volunteers, our assignment was to guide the runners through the streets and ensure they didn’t get lost. We arrived at the club at 6:00, where the manager assigned each of us a designated post. We were at our posts around 7:00, carefully avoiding obstructing any crossroads that were present at our spot and stopping coming traffic from getting onto the course. We waited patiently for the race to begin, and around 8:10, the first runners made their appearance, quick and determined, and began to slowly appear. Gradually, we saw a diverse group of participants, from children to the elderly. The last few runners, there was the flag carrier, an elderly flag bearer proudly carrying the American Flag. We also saw how much people supported the community was heartwarming and showed how strong this community is. Once the final runner passed, followed by the ambulance signaling the end of the race, our task was complete.
This was a very fun and great experience to volunteer. Seeing the amount of people volunteering, and running in the race was heartwarming. Seeing the community support and honor our 9/11 heroes and our local heroes. In America, Cross Country is a very popular sport. It doesn’t matter if you are a beginner or a professional, cross country is a sport for all to enjoy.
Members who participated include:
Brian Xiong (4 ½ hours), Eric Xiong(4 ½ hours), Miles Hu(4 ½ hours), Ethan Lin(4 ½ hours), Jasmine Lin(4 ½ hours), and Zihan Wang(4 ½ hours)
Reporter: Eric Xiong