An inspiring staff member from Solihull College & University Centre was delighted to be selected as a batonbearer for the Commonwealth Games this summer.
Through his voluntary work as an Event Director for Parkrun in Solihull, Andrew Lucas was nominated by several people including colleagues at the College to carry the baton for The Queen’s Baton Relay. Upon selection, Andrew was asked to carry the baton onto the stage at Jubilee Gardens, Solihull.
He comments: “It was a rewarding experience, and I was very lucky to be a part of the Games in such a way. However, I was just one person chosen out of the many wonderful people who do amazing things and volunteer their time to serve their communities, there was nothing special about me.”
Andrew Lucas was selected to carry the baton onto the stage at Jubilee Gardens. Picture credit: Birmingham Live
In addition to being a batonbearer, Andrew spent three weeks of his annual leave to volunteer as a Commonwealth Games Assistant (CGA) for Team Samoa, ensuring all their needs were met and that they had a rewarding time in Birmingham throughout their stay.
This isn’t the first sporting event Andrew has volunteered in – he assisted the Solomon Islands team during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. Whilst at the village this summer with Team Samoa, Andrew was delighted to find two familiar faces from the Solomon Islands smiling and waving at him. He says: “It was so nice to be reunited with a team I worked with 8 years ago.”
Andrew adds: “I enjoy volunteering and being a part of something where I can lend my time and some of my expertise. I also volunteered in Yorkshire during the Tour de France.”
Andrew has volunteered at a number of national sporting events
What’s next for the inspiring Admin Assistant? “I want to focus on getting another parkrun event arranged for Solihull and hope that we can get more of the community involved.”
Three months ago, in May, Parkrun celebrated Andrew’s milestone achievement of volunteering 500 times. For the past 9 years, Andrew has volunteered every Saturday morning and most Sundays to parkruns. Parkruns are 5k events that bring together the local community in parks or open spaces where they meet every weekend to walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate.
Andrew has made the College and local Solihull community proud with his inspirational achievements and by volunteering his time to support the local area and the Commonwealth Games.
