MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Around the U.P., the community is still getting ready for another winter race. With the UP200 just two weeks away, officials are still in need of volunteers for the events throughout the weekend.
From the warming tents in Marquette to the halfway point for the racers in Grand Murray, volunteers will help the mushers and K-9’s compete safely.
The UP200 officials said that year by year, they do their best to recruit 600 to 700 volunteers. “I always say the UP200 is my second favorite time of year and you go there because everybody there shares this bond of this. It’s the coolest thing I’ve ever done so you go there because of that excitment and that energy”, said Volunteer Coordinator Megan Holeva.
The UP200 is still in need of volunteers in multiple roles. Road Crossing volunteers are needed to help with mushers crossing and crowd control volunteers for the launch of the race Friday, February 17th.
President of U.P Sled Dog Association, Darlene Walch said “We still need a few people to check musher bags, and crowd control on friday night, that alone takes a few hundred volunteers because were lining both sides of the start shoot down washington street all the way out of town”.
The energy and excitment from the UP200 becomes even more electric as the night nears around the corner. “If you do one thing this winter to get yourself off the couch you either need to come see this race or you need to come be involved. You’re not gonna make beter friends, and your not gonna have again that energy anywhere else”, conitinued Holeva.
For more information on volunteering with the UP200, click here.
Click here for more information on the races throughout the weekend.
