We can use plenty of volunteers for our annual Mississippi River Challenge, July 26-27, 2008.

Join the challenge within the Challenge — providing hundreds of paddlers and cyclists with support, assistance, food and beverages and a healthy dose of encouragement and good cheer.

Individuals and volunteer groups are needed at each MRC route stop, from Coon Rapids Dam, through Minneapolis and Saint Paul, to Grey Cloud Island. With the support and direction of FMR staff, volunteers help with general event/site assistance — from greeting participants and visitors and helping with refreshments to directing traffic. Qualified volunteers are also sought for Safety Captains and First Aid Assistance (see below).

Three and four-hour event-assistance shifts are available Friday evening, July 25, and in the morning, afternoon and evening of Saturday, July 26 and Sunday, July 27. Volunteers can sign up for as many shifts as they like.

Volunteers receive a Challenge t-shirt and meals or snacks at their volunteer site(s), not to mention the gratitude of paddlers and staff.

A large number of volunteers are especially sought for the afternoon/evening party at Fort Snelling Saturday, July 26, the party includes a large meal, live music and a historical reenactment which volunteers are free to enjoy while attending their duties. Volunteers willing to help serve the paddlers and cyclists breakfast the next morning and help the paddlers re-enter the water can also pitch a tent in the historic Fort for the evening, alongside the paddlers.

For more information, or to register, contact sue rich at 651-222-2193 x14 or through our contact form. A list of the shifts and locations is available at the Mississippi River Challenge web site. If this is your first time volunteering for the Challenge or you’re overwhelmed by the choices, feel free to e-mail sue (using the form on that page) with your range of availability July 25 through 27, the number of hours you’d like to volunteer, your contact information, and any other considerations you’d like to include, and she can send you a potential volunteer itinerary for your consideration.

Special volunteers sought for First Aid assistance

Lifeguards, nurses, EMTs and other health care professionals are also needed. If you’re involved in the health care industry or have up-to-date first aid training, please contact sue rich through our contact form or at 651-222-2193 x14 with your name, a sentence or two about your experience, and contact information.