IT TAKES A TRIBE: ABI, LONDON

It's Volunteer Week 2018! Our fourth feature on our fintastic volunteers takes us to London to meet Abi, a musical Mama Mermaid!

1. How did you find out about Mini Mermaids?
I run regularly at Highbury Fields parkrun and volunteer at the junior parkrun there. One of the Mini Mermaids team, Khara, is also part of the junior parkrun team and asked if I would act as a Mama Mermaid for girls completing their 5k challenge at Highbury Fields.

​2. What are some of your more memorable moments acting as a Mama Mermaid?
There aren't specific moments as such, but it's been lovely to see the support for the Mini Mermaids during their 5k challenges - from the coaches and parents but also from the volunteers and other runners at parkrun. Hearing cheers of 'well done Mermaids!' as you go round the course and seeing the girls' faces light up every time as they realise those cheers are for them because they are doing something amazing is a really special experience.

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3. You're an avid volunteer with a number of organisations, including junior parkrun? Why do you think it’s important to volunteer?
I wasn't active as a child and had quite a negative relationship with sport. Having got into running as an adult I'm really keen to be involved with initiatives such as parkrun and Mini Mermaids that get people (and particularly children) active in a fun and supportive way.

4. What do you love about being active?
It depends a lot on how I'm feeling on the day! Sometimes I like the feeling of challenging myself, seeing improvement and getting stronger; other times I just enjoy being outside and taking time out from the busy day to day routine.

5. When you're not volunteering, we'll find you...
Either running myself, or doing something musical - I work for a performing arts venue and do lots of singing in my spare time, so you'll usually find me either outside in running shoes or inside in a concert of some kind!