Volunteers make the 5K Magic Happen!

Our 2025 Spring 5K is on Sunday May 18th at The Waterfront in Homestead, PA. Volunteer roles will be located at various points around both the course and the pre/post race areas.

Please identify your preferred volunteer position and any other volunteer roles that you are interested in filling. We cannot guarantee you will get your preferred role, but we will make every effort to place you somewhere that fits your talents/interests. Please email Linda Maus at mauslm@upmc.edu.

Available Volunteer Roles

Where I'm Needed Most: THIS IS OUR FAVORITE! You're up for (just about) any volunteer role and are willing to be flexible on Race Day!

Pre-Race Admin Activities (TBD): You want to help organize shirts, stuff race packets, hand out race packets, and anything in between as we gear up for the 5K. This is a great option if you're busy on Race Day but still want to help out in the days/weeks leading up to the 5K!

U-Haul Pre-Race Loading: (Friday May 16th: Time TBD): We need all muscles on deck to load up our U-Hauls the Friday before the 5K! We'll be loading up all of our equipment in the Strip District, as well as stopping by our offices to add in all of our bins/supplies. A great way to help if you're busy on Race Day! Note: No Clearances required for this day.

Race Set-Up (5am): You're an early bird ready to join us pre-sunrise to set up the course, inflatables, sign management crew, helping w tents/tables, etc. One of our more physical roles that may involve some heavy lifting! The more the merrier, and you'll earn a really great nap later in the day!

Volunteer Check-in (6am): You'll arrive early and make sure all Volunteer Supply Bins are unloaded and ready to go. You'll check in volunteers, hand out their station supply bins, and help direct them to their spots if they need it!

Coach Check-in/Bag Drop Off (6:30am): Welcome our Coaches to the race, take their coach bags, make sure they have any important or last minute information, and then direct them to the Boathouse parking lot to set up their team tent! This will be located in the Rose Barn.

Parking and Traffic Control (6:30am): Help all of our families navigate parking and bus loading/unloading

Registration/Packet-Pickup (6:15am): Check in runners, give them their packets w bibs and shirts and handle Race Day Registrations.

Merchandise Sales (6:15am): Help us sell our awesome GOTR branded items. Proceeds go right back into the program! Setup merch tables, handle money, re-pack merch at end of event.

GOTR Raffle Basket Table (6:30am): Manage both the team raffle table (program participants only) and the adult raffle table (anyone can buy a ticket! Will require handling money). Pull, announce, and record winners at designated time post 5K.

Plinko Booth (6:30am): Our program participants LOVE to play Plinko. You'll help run the game and hand out prizes! (one ticket/play per participant)

Happy Hair Bling Box Management and Delivery (6:30am): Our teams will each receive a box with colored hair spray, sparkles, and stickers/markers to decorate their bibs! You will be in charge of handing these out to the Coaches and collecting them at the end of the event.

Course Cheer Station (6:30am): Do you have extra energy and a desire to bang a cowbell? Come cheer on our runners along the entire course! This is always a popular selection, so we may ask some of you to move to a water station while still doing your very best cheers!

Water Station (6:30am): Help hydrate our runners. You will help set up the tables, pour the cups of water, hand them out, and help clean up the cups at the end of the race.

Kids Ribbon Race (6:30am): Manage the smallest of our runners as they run, walk or toddle a (very) short version of our race. This will be held at 8:30am before the 5K at the start line.

Bike Lead (6:30am): If you have fast peddling feet, be a bike lead! We need at least one bike on the course to lead our first runner. Just don't get lost!

Race Sweepers (6:30am): You'll make sure our final runners are moving safely through the course (and have an extra cheerleader if they need it!), as well as let the stations along the course know when the final runner has passed so that they can begin tear down/clean up of their area.

Race Day Photographer (6:30am): If you have a camera and love to photograph large, active, and above all SPECIAL celebrations, we'd love to have you come record our memories!

Course Marshalls (6:30am): You'll be placed strategically along the course with a first aid kit, keeping an eye on everything and can report in on the radio if there are any issues so we can send the appropriate people or authorities to help. You may also do some gentle crowd management of any "Waterfront regulars."

On Course Music/Entertainment (6:30am): Do you play an instrument and want to use it to motivate our runners? We'd love to have you join us on the course. Looking for all types, from solo guitars to dynamic groups to drumlines. If you have a creative idea for on course entertainment that's appropriate for kids, let us know!

Face Painters (6:30am): Bring your artistic abilities to Race Day. Looking for fun but simple designs as you'll be managing a large, energized crowd of kiddos!

Finish Line Medals/Food/Water (6:30am): You'll help setup and distribute all of our finish line goodies, including medals, water, and food. Our runners will be VERY happy to see you!

Post Race Tear Down/Clean Up Crew (9:45am): You get to sleep in and join us later in the day to help with all post-race tear down and clean up, including re-loading our U-Hauls!

U-Haul Race Day Help (Time TBD: post race est 1pm): You'll join us at our warehouse in the Strip District after the race to help unload all of our equipment. It's just like day at the gym! If you are ONLY meeting us at the warehouse, no clearances are required! More hands is always appreciated to help us finish out a long and rewarding day!

Girls on the Run UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital 2025 Spring 5K Volunteer Registration