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Stories from the Rosterfy team about the causes they care about. Tom shares what it's like to volunteer as a guide runner with Achilles.
One of the best things about working at Rosterfy is that it pushed me to start volunteering myself, admittedly something I probably wouldn’t have done otherwise. But thank goodness I did, because volunteering at Achilles has been one of the best things I’ve ever done.
Like many people who’ve turned 30 and live in London, I've become obsessed with running.
Achilles is an international charity that pairs visually impaired runners with volunteer guides. I met Chris, who runs the charity in London (a massive legend), and he was super nice. We chatted about running, and he suggested I give guiding a go. I quickly discovered it’s about so much more than just running side by side.
Since then, I’ve helped out at parkruns, RunThrough events, and their weekly running sessions. As you might expect, the people who help out at these events are incredibly friendly and welcoming.
At my first session, we all went around in a circle to introduce ourselves and share a bit about our running experience.
Based on how far or how fast you wanted to go that day, you were paired with a runner to guide. Everyone likes to be guided slightly differently, so it’s something you ask when you meet your runner for the first time. You quickly learn what works best for each person.
In my first couple of sessions, I didn’t realise how much you actually take for granted when running. It sounds obvious when I write this, but even slight gradients that you wouldn’t notice need to be called out. When you’re guiding someone who can’t see them, they rely on you completely, and you don’t want them to trip. I made that mistake a few times early on, but everyone was so understanding. You learn quickly and keep improving.
One of the best perks is getting free entry to big races and the chance to guide someone across the finish line. You’ll never hear more cheers for your name than when you do a guided run. Plus, races somehow fly by when you’re guiding. You’re not thinking about yourself at all, just focusing on your runner and your surroundings, and suddenly, bosh, you’ve done a 10km.
I’ve loved every minute of volunteering with Achilles.
Funny enough, something I now genuinely look forward to has also got me a few nice comments along the way. I always caveat that I work in sales, selling a volunteering management platform, but I genuinely advocate for everyone to give volunteering a go.
Pictured: Tom Birch from Rosterfy volunteering as a guide runner for Achilles in London
About Rosterfy
Rosterfy is a global volunteer and workforce management platform helping organisations recruit, train, engage, and retain volunteers at scale. Trusted by nonprofits, events, and government programmes worldwide, Rosterfy empowers impactful volunteer experiences through automation, compliance tools, and powerful integrations.
About Achilles International
Achilles International, a global organisation operating in 18 countries including the UK, transforms the lives of people with disabilities through athletic programs and social connection. Since its founding in 1983, Achilles has empowered over 150,000 athletes of all ages and ability levels to participate in endurance events around the globe.