Almost 2,000 runners joined the recent Million Hectare Challenge (MHC) held last November 25 at the CCP Complex. These 2,000 people consisted of members, office workers, environmentalists, students from high school and college, and even a number of preschoolers and other children.

Together they participated in a morning with ups and downs, from the chill of dawn, to the heat and vigor of running, and to the festivities of the post-run program. The time they gave during that Sunday morning meant that a thousand trees will continue to be nurtured.

Behind the scenes, however, while the runners were still waking up, a batch of selfless volunteers were already up and getting ready. These volunteers willingly agreed to the call time set way before there was even light out, the run would be hard pressed to be a success.

Volunteers were distributed all over the CCP complex each tasked with a specific mission. Marshals made sure no one got lost and that no vehicles would accidentally stray in to their path. Booth volunteers assisted the organizing staff on site and made sure excessively long waiting times were avoided. Our photographers were there to make sure the runners had photos of them running with the sun at their back and their hair all over the place. Then you have the performers. After traveling all that distance on foot, who else was there to lighten up the morning while runners sprawled on the floor to catch their breath?

Volunteers are sometimes overlooked when they play such a significant role in any event they are part of. In this case, they sacrificed their time and plans to contribute to Haribon’s reforestation efforts. While they did not do so directly, their role, without a doubt, enabled everyone else to get involved.

To all volunteers, thank you very much for offering your services for a cause much bigger than any of our individual selves. In the end, while we are merely one person, we are capable of creating an impact as far reaching as we can imagine.