More than 1100 volunteers will bring their talents to a variety of roles in the lead up to and during the 35th Gold Coast Airport Marathon (6-7 July).

They will be recruited as part of the Suncorp Bank Volunteer Program.

And to recognise the role of students in delivery of the event, interns from the Bond and Griffith universities and the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE will be special guests of honour at a National Volunteers Week breakfast hosted by the marathon organisers at the Southport Broadwater Parklands this Wednesday morning (15 May).

National Volunteer Week’s Thanks a Million campaign is a weeklong celebration dedicated to recognising the six million Australians who volunteer annually and contribute over 700 million hours of work to their communities.

Gold Coast Events General Manager Cameron Hart said student involvement in the Suncorp Bank Volunteer Program also delivers an important local educational legacy.

“No major event could be conducted successfully without a strong team of volunteers,” Mr Hart said.

“As event managers we need to be aware of the needs of volunteers and make sure we can provide them with a one hundred per cent positive event experience, as we strive to do for the race weekend participants.

“Supporting volunteers is more than providing a free tee-shirt and meal voucher; it’s about creating a positive working environment that they enjoy coming to and, in the case of the students, a long-lasting learning outcome.

“They work in operations, registrations, sport services and marketing and working on a major event such as ours offers the interns a rare chance to apply their theoretical skills in a practical workplace environment,” he said.

Mr Hart said members of the general community are invited to apply for roles at the event including registrations, information booth, corporate hospitality, stage presentations and directional staff.

People wanting to apply or obtain further information on joining the event’s Suncorp Bank Volunteer Program or participating in any of the marathon events, can visit www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au

“However our volunteers are involved, we can promise there won’t be a boring moment,” Mr Hart said.