Girls on the Run of WNC will empower nearly 500 local girls this fall

Press release from Girls on the Run of WNC:

Girls on the Run of WNC has kicked off its fall season with 32 teams made up of almost 500 girls in 3rd-8th grade. A physical activity-based, positive youth development program for girls, Girls on the Run combines running with lessons about important topics such as preventing bullying and processing emotions.

Led by volunteer coaches, small teams of 8-15 girls will meet twice a week for 90 minutes over 10 weeks at 30 sites throughout nine counties in WNC. It is primarily held at schools and at some community sites, such as recreation centers, YMCAs and Boys and Girls clubs. This fall, 150 volunteer coaches will deliver the fun, experience-based curriculum, and hundreds of running buddies will volunteer to attend practices to help support and motivate the girls.

“We are so excited to inspire hundreds of girls to be joyful, healthy and confident this fall season,” said Rebecca Tucker, executive director of Girls on the Run of WNC. “Participating in this life-changing program is an experience that will impact our girls’ futures and give them the confidence they need to know they really can change the world.”

Girls on the Run combines running and training for an end-of-season 5k running event with the 20-lesson curriculum. Completing a non-competitive 5k running event provides a tangible sense of confidence through accomplishment. The fall 5k is on Sunday, December 2 and is open to the public. Registration opens soon.

It costs $200 to provide the 10-week Girls on the Run program to one girl; if the family of a girl in need cannot pay the fee, then Girls on the Run of WNC provides a scholarship to cover the cost. No girl is ever turned away because of inability to pay.

“We intentionally reach to schools and communities where girls have limited access to quality after-school programs. Last year, over 80 percent of our program sites were Title 1 (low-income) schools,” said Tucker. “During the 2017-2018 season, $88,025 was provided in scholarships.”

In 2017, 1,173 girls participated in GOTR of WNC across the 14 counties the organization serves. During their lessons, Girls on the Run participants learn that they have the power to change their community. Each season every team chooses and completes a community impact project, where they may, for example, write letters of encouragement to residents of a homeless shelter or make sun catchers for a cancer treatment center.

“We encourage the Western North Carolina community to join us in making our community a better place. Individuals, businesses, church groups can also change your community by choosing to do just one thing to support our mission of empowering these girls,” said Tucker. “Whether it is providing much needed financial support or in-kind donations, volunteering to coach or to cheer on the girls as they participate in their celebration 5k, every contribution is much-needed and appreciated.”

To find out more about volunteering with Girls on the Run this fall, becoming a sponsor or partner, or to make a donation, go to GOTRWNC.org.

A recent study found that 97 percent of girls learned critical life skills at Girls on the Run—including managing emotions, resolving conflict, helping others, and making intentional decisions—that they are using at home, at school and with their friends. The program impacts girls’ mental and physical growth, as well. Girls who were the least active at the start of the season increased their physical activity level by more than 40 percent. Changing a girl’s perception of herself during the most formative years can potentially avoid self-harming behaviors in their future.

Girls on the Run of WNC began with 20 girls in 2002 and has now served more than 12,000 girls across 14 WNC counties.

About Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run of Western North Carolina is an independent council of Girls on the Run International, which has a network of 200+ locations across the United States and Canada. Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based, positive youth development program for girls in 3rd-8th grade that teaches life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and running games and culminates with the girls being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5k running event. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness.

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