It wasn't long ago that runners were racing the Royal Victoria Marathon with time chips clipped to the back of their running shoes, before volunteers would remove them at the finish line.

Now, 45 years after the first race in 1980, the Royal Victoria Marathon has grown into a weekend-long event, with more than 15,500 participants lacing up for a variety of distances.

When Eileen Bancroft first volunteered, her daughter was in Grade 6 and asked her to help at the finish line. Over a decade later, Bancroft has become a fixture at the marathon, ensuring runners cross safely, helping anyone who stumbles, and even sewing the finish line ribbon.

This Sunday will mark her 12th and final year volunteering at the iconic race, a commitment that earned her one of this year’s Volunteers of the Year

See Full Page