By Aydee Bigaton

Dragon boat paddling club Dragons Abreast Mt Warning will be one of 50 community groups volunteering at this year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon as part of the Suncorp Bank Volunteer Program.

It will be group’s ninth year volunteering at the event, which they undertake for the camaraderie and the opportunity to engage with runners out to achieve personal goals.

Dragons Abreast Mt Warning was founded in 2007 by Christine Lonie who was drawn to the sport of dragon boat paddling through a family history of breast cancer.

Now the club helps those diagnosed with breast cancer understand that they can still lead full and active lives despite their diagnosis. The group also endeavours to raise the awareness of breast cancer and the search for a cure.

Each year since 2008, the club has provided volunteers in the Nu-Pure Recovery Area to manage refreshments and distribute finishers’ shirts and medals to the runners.

Christine said her group loves to help celebrate the personal achievements of others and working in the Nu-Pure Recovery Area is a great location to do so.

“As a sporting group, we understand what it takes to achieve aspirations at your chosen sport,” Christine said.

“We love to observe the dedication that is required to reach the finish line and we wish to show our support to those competitors.

“This event has been very popular with our group and has become an annual social weekend for all of us.”

There are more than 1,000 volunteers from 50 community groups helping with the delivery of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon.

A community group manages each of the 24 aid stations on course. Also, you will see groups at both the start and finish lines, as well as along the course organising traffic as road marshals.

Gold Coast Airport Marathon entries close Friday 1 July 2016 (8pm QLD).