Tweet

By Jimmy Robertson

BLACKSBURG – During the week over the course of a season, members of the Virginia Tech swimming and diving teams usually get up well before dawn and report to the Christiansburg Aquatic Center for a practice.

So when they get a weekend free from competition, particularly a free Sunday, many of them cut off the alarm clock and snooze well into the morning.

But this past Sunday, nearly the entire team arose shortly after dawn and reported to the Corporate Research Center to perform a community service. The team members served as volunteers for the annual Color Me Rad 5K Run that winds through the CRC property.

“This event was a volunteer opportunity that fit around practices, meets, and classes, so despite being early on Sunday morning, so many of us were eager to volunteer,” senior swimmer Caroline Buscaglia said. “I like giving back to the community, but it can be hard to find the time for volunteer opportunities. So when one fits, I jump at it.”

Members of the swimming and diving team weren’t the only ones to volunteer for the event. Other team representatives include those from the sports of men’s and women’s track and field and cross country, men’s soccer and softball. Nearly 70 student-athletes volunteered to help.

Most of them worked as on-course marshals, directing runners where to go. Some worked at color “stations,” tossing colored powder or gel on the runners in keeping the tradition that is synonymous with the race. Runners cross the finish line looking like a rainbow of colors.

The volunteers also perform the most basic of tasks – cheering on the runners as they run past.

“It was a great opportunity to help the community that has given so much to me and supported me in the years I have spent here,” senior swimmer Brandon Fiala said. “Community service is a huge part of my life here at Tech. I feel that it is all of our responsibility as student-athletes to give back to the community surrounding us.”

Color Me Rad is a for-profit business that gives a portion of its proceeds from events like this one back to local charities. This particular race served as a fundraiser for the Special Olympics, a sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics is near and dear to the hearts of many Tech student-athletes, as many of them volunteer for the big regional basketball event held at Virginia Tech Carilion Court each spring.

“Special Olympics is an amazing organization that I have been privileged to help out with in the past,” Fiala said. “Seeing kids live out their dreams of playing sports in front of crowds is an amazing sight to see. I hope this run helped make achieving more of those goals possible.”

Buscaglia agreed.

“It's so awesome that some of the proceeds from the run go to Special Olympics because I think that organization has an incredible mission that is extremely important to support,” she said. “They put on so many different kinds of events throughout the year, and knowing I helped in any way to keep that going is a great feeling.”

For updates on Virginia Tech Athletics, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @hokiesports