Posted: June 28, 2007

Athletics: Grandma’s Marathon Recognizes Volunteers of the Year

(Duluth, Minn.) The Grandma's Marathon staff and board of directors presented the organization’s Volunteer of the Year Award at the annual volunteer appreciation party on Sunday, June 24. Duluthians Steve and Joyce Lent received the 2007 award for their many years of service as finish line volunteers. “Steve and Joyce are wonderful individuals and dedicated volunteers. We are so fortunate to have them on our team, and they are extremely deserving of this award as they have both played important roles for many years,” says Scott Keenan, executive director of Grandma's Marathon. In the early years, the Lents were in charge of making sure the runners entered the correct chutes as they approached the finish line and keeping everybody in order until their tag was removed from their race number. The couple admits that their job has now gotten easier with the introduction of chip timing, but that is not to say they don’t keep busy on race day. With the marathon growing larger each year and with the addition of the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon in 1991, the couple continues to play a crucial role in the finish line operations. They direct runners where to go as they cross the finish line, make sure that the path is clear of media, spectators and volunteers to ensure that the runners have a smooth finish, and help the medical team with runners who need assistance at the finish line. Both Steve and Joyce agree that volunteering at Grandma's Marathon gives them an opportunity to give back to a community that has given so much to them. “It’s a wonderful event and we love being at the finish line. Plus we feel like we owe so much to the Duluth community, and this is one of the ways we can give back,” says Joyce. Steve has worked for Minnesota Power for 34 years and is currently working in the marketing department. Joyce is an assistant at a daycare facility in Duluth’s Lakeside neighborhood. The Grandma's Marathon Volunteer of the Year Award is given annually to an individual or group of individuals who have donated a tremendous amount of time volunteering for Grandma's Marathon and in doing so have assisted in the smooth and successful operation of Grandma’s Marathon events. For more information, visit www.grandmasmarathon.com. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest