Marathon runners and different perspectives
APRIL 29TH, 2010 By DOMINIC
Seeing the pain etched on the faces of last weekend’s London Marathon runners took me back several years to when I ran it but this time I had a totally different perspective – as a volunteer helping to reunite the young runners with parents at the finish line.
Taking part in the marathon was an amazing experience but actually being involved in a behind the scenes capacity was phenomenal as I’d never appreciated what a logistical feat it is to ensure the smooth running of one of the most popular marathons in the world.
It’s the first year my good friend and client Richard Kyte led the team responsible for the safe repatriation of 2000 youngsters to their team managers and parents. What a mammoth task! I was part of a team based on The Mall in a sterile area which greets the runners and shepherds them off the course. Considering there are nearly 40,000 runners including child participants the magnitude of the operation is colossal.
When Richard first asked me to help I didn’t envisage what a fascinating day it would be. I reunited one anxious mother with her daughter who’d had an asthma attack and assisted another first aider to quickly locate a nine year old diabetic girl who needed urgent medication after the race. All this while hundreds of runners were pouring over the finish line every minute, all needing to be congratulated, looked after and ushered safely off the course. It was manic.
The banks of St John Ambulance was a sight to behold, it was all hands to the deck as the bulk of four to five hour runners flooded in. All those years ago I’d completely taken for granted how my bag was miraculously waiting for me at the finish line. I had no idea it involved a convoy of 40 articulated lorries ferrying 37,000 bags to the finish line with each and every one off loaded by volunteers and ordered with military precision.
The organisation was absolutely phenomenal and it was great to be part of such a memorable day for so many people.
I did get chance to have a quick word with fellow volunteers as we were all interested in what had brought us to the event and what we all did for ‘day jobs’. I explained that I ran a private office for families many of whom have between one to £20 million in assets. I was met largely with blank looks with some asking the question – “what’s a private office“?
Such encounters proved useful as it made me realise that beyond the realms of the financial world it’s not a term readily understood. I explained that Xentum runs a family office arrangement for clients encompassing all their financial affairs, from co-ordinating with solicitors, accountants, bank managers, fund managers, stock brokers etc.. ensuring a consistent and holistic approach is given to their affairs. Often, it involves looking after three generations within one family to ensure they reach their financial objectives. It’s common for super wealthy European families to have a private office in place but now we can give this service to families where there is considerable wealth and complexity in their arrangements who wouldn’t ordinarily be able to fund such a set up. It was refreshing to see that people were genuinely interested in the concept as they do tend to switch off a bit when the words finance and advice crop in the same sentence.
I’ll refer to the term private office more from now on as I think it’s important to raise awareness of its role and how useful it can be.
Finally, I’ll go back to where I started and congratulate all those who took part on Sunday. It was amazing to watch all your achievements. Well done.
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