No slowing down for volunteer veterans

Three decades ago, Mrs Davies (78) was invited to volunteer at the running event while working for the Activ Foundation at the Clem Booth Hostel.

‘I said if you go, I’ll do it as well and we have done it ever since,’ Mr Davies said.

The couple have seen City to Surf grow into WA’s largest community sporting event with more than 50,000 participants and 1400 volunteers across WA.

Mr Davies (80) said he had been assigned a variety of roles over the years, some of which no longer existed.

‘One year we were stationed at the finish line with a pencil and our job was to write each participant’s time on a certificate as they crossed the finish line and then officiate it with our signature,’ he said.

‘I must have written almost 500 certificates. Thankfully, technology does it for us now.’

Despite years of volunteering, the couple, originally from Wales, said they had no interest in participating in the run.

‘When we had to sign all certificates by hand at the finish and we saw the pain on the runners’ faces, that put us off. But it’s awe-inspiring to see all those people setting off over the hill,’ Mr Davies said.

The couple plan to volunteer at the event as long as they physically can.

To register for the event, visit www.chevroncitytosurf.com