Communications are the lifeblood of any major event.

That is especially true for a successful operation of The Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic Run and Walk.

This Friday and Saturday, about 30 members of the Northern Panhandle Amateur Radio Club will be on hand to assist during the race festivities, just as they have been there since the inception of the Wheeling distance race in 1977.

"We appreciate everything they have done over the years," said Mark Ridgely, advertising sales director for The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register and an assistant race director.

"It would be very difficult to hold a race of this magnitude without the help they give us," Ridgely added.

One of this group's many duties during race weekend is to see that the runners and walkers won't face any safety issues along the course.

"We will have ham radio operators at every mile marker, aid station and at many of the dangerous intersections," pointed out Matt Koval, who has been involved with the Ogden 20K since 1987. He currently serves on the race committee as communications director.

"If a runner or walker would happen to get hurt or need assistance, our radio operator on the scene would immediately contact another person we have stationed in the Wheeling Fire Department communications vehicle," Koval said. "That would allow them to dispatch one of the many EMS agencies to the scene."

There have been a couple of occasions were runners have passed out along the course. Koval recalled two such occurrances at the crest of the long 29th Street Hill. A radio operator was close by and able to make a speedy contact so the ailing runners could be taken care of right away.

Several years ago, a fire in South Wheeling the morning of the race forced a change in the course and the communications folks played a major role in keeping the runners headed in the right direction.

"We've been lucky the past in that we've had a couple of quiet races the past couple of years. We'd like to see that continue this week. But if we are needed, we'll be ready to handle any emergency," Koval added.

Members of the Northern Panhandle club also have taken on other duties both Friday and Saturday. When it was decided to put a clock at each of the mile markers along the 12.4-mile course, they accepted the task of picking up the clocks, putting them where they were needed and then collecting them at the conclusion of the race.

Another service the group provides is to radio the positions of the first three male and female runners to the start/finish line so the race officials and fans located near WesBanco Arena can be informed of what is happening out on the course.

Ham radio operators are all volunteers and, by law, are not permitted to accept monetary compensation for their services.

"We do it for the satisfaction of helping other people out. It's a lot of fun, too," Koval said.

There are no age requirements to become a ham operator. Some are school students, teachers, truck drivers and men and women in nearly every profession.

"We do a lot of things together. We have club meetings, ice cream socials, pizza parties, horseback rides, motorcycle rides, anything that is fun to do," he added.

Race Director Howard Corcoran certainly appreciates what this group does to help out on race day.

"They've been involved with us since the beginning, and we certainly are thankful to have them around. It makes our job a lot easier on race day," he said.