Volunteers still needed for UP200 weekend

Brianna MacLean
·2 min read

MARQUETTE AND ALGER COUNTIES, Mich. (WJMN) – We are less than a month away from the UP200, Midnight Run, and Jack Pine 30 dog sled races, and there is still a need for volunteers.

These races are almost completely volunteer-based, with about 400 to 600 volunteers needed for the entire weekend. With around 150 spots currently filled, most volunteer jobs are still open. This includes dog handling at Chatham and Wetmore checkpoints, road crossings, merchandise and sales, crowd control, and much more. UP200 Volunteer Coordinator Meg Holeva says anyone is welcome to sign-up and no prior experience is needed.

“I think it’s important to lead volunteers from a point of excitement. So, if you want to be there, I want you there. No shame of ‘If you don’t do it, no one else is’. No, we’re here because we all love the sport. I’ve never been behind a dog in my life, but this is my eighth year. So just come see the excitement even if you can’t volunteer, join us downtown, join us at the finish at the casino. We would love to have you just be there for us and the community,” said Holeva.

For the first time, the UP200 is partnering with the United Way of Marquette County to use its Yoopers United website for people to find all of the available volunteer opportunities and to sign up.

“It’s really easy. Once you get on the site, if you have an account you need to sign in, otherwise create an account with just basic name and email address,” said United Way of Marquette County’s Executive Director Andrew Rickauer. “The needs are all there, it’s easy to find the UP200 needs. And you can really scroll through and find out when you’re available, what you want to be doing, location. It’s broken down to each individual task and location, so it really lets you find the need that you want to help with.”

The UP200, Midnight Run and Jack Pine is February 15-19. If you’re interested in volunteering, you can sign up online here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJMN - UPMatters.com.