Giving young people the joy of sport, supporting them and thus promoting team spirit – these are just three of the many reasons why Martina Bruneder-Winter volunteers at the sports club LCAV Jodl Packaging. Last year, the Frankenmarkterin, herself a top runner with numerous championship titles, was voted the state winner of the 2021 volunteer election with almost 45,000 votes.
What impressions accompany the track and field athlete a year after the election: “The election made me aware of how many people are really grateful for this commitment. And not just from my own club. I was approached at sporting events by many people who spoke to me for thanked me for my commitment,” says Bruneder-Winter.
More than just the sports units
While numerous clubs complained about returns from members due to the corona, Brun-eder-Winter notices the motivation of her protégés. “You can already tell that the parents are now more behind the children attending a club. While sometimes the sporting ambition is not quite there, the friendship counts all the more,” says the athletics trainer, who only before was recently at a training camp in Obertraun with her club. “For the volunteers in sports, there is actually a lot of work involved. There is more to it than just the hours on the sports field. I plan the units, I organize the training camp and much more,” says Bruneder-Winter.
An activity that the Sportland Oberösterreich, in cooperation with the OÖ Nachrichten, Tips, Life Radio and TV1, is honoring again this year. The more than 200,000 volunteers in Upper Austria often work behind the curtain. Whether as trainers, cashiers or representatives – without them, club life in Upper Austria would not be possible.
From August 31st you can vote until September 25th, the winners will be chosen on October 5th. Each district winner receives 1,000 euros, and the top three in the state rankings receive an additional 250, 500 or 1,000 euros.
More at nachrichten.at/ehrenamt
Source: Nachrichten
