MARK Butler’s incredible achievements with Hatch Warren Runners earned him the Senior Volunteer Award.
Butler is a founder member of the club, which was set up just two years ago but already has more than 250 members, spending hundreds of hours chairing meetings, coaching and organising events.
“We started out as 10 friends who just wanted to run together, but now the club is an England Athletics affiliated running club with 260 members,” he said.
“Also in that time, members of the club have raised more than £50,000 for charity.
“We wanted to try and create something different and we welcome runners of all abilities. We have people who run a mile in five or six minutes, right up to people who run a mile in 12 minutes.
“Our aim now is to help our beginners to progress so we have space for more beginners. That’s the big goal for 2015.”
In addition to being the driving force behind Hatch Warren Runners, Butler continues to run himself. During 2014, he completed two marathons, three half marathons and many other events.
Butler may have done an amazing job, but he was still surprised to win the award.
“I was nominated last year and absolutely gobsmacked to win this time around,” he said. “So many people give a lot of time to sport behind the scenes.
“I do it because I love running. To get recognition for the work I do is really nice.”
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