Race to benefit Girls on the Run of WNC

Here’s the press release from Girls on the Run:

2nd Annual Rise n’ Shine 5K at Mountain Sports Festival
to benefit Girls on the Run of WNC

ASHEVILLE, NC, May 9, 2013 – The Rise n’ Shine 5K will take place as part of the Mountain Sports Festival on Saturday, May 25th at 9am at Carrier Park in Asheville. This family-friendly 5K offers a flat, easy course along the French Broad River, a pancake and bacon breakfast at the finish and travel mugs sponsored by Hi-Fi Café to the first 175 registrants. Event proceeds benefit Girls on the Run® of Western North Carolina (GOTRWNC).

“Girls on the Run is grateful to the Mountain Sports Festival for inviting us back to host this fun 5K. The funds raised through Rise n’ Shine will be used to support program scholarships that allow all girls to participate in our program, regardless of income. We subsidized nearly $78,000 in scholarships this year, but because of that, we were able to cheer over 1,250 girls across the finish line!” said Amy Renigar, Executive Director.

Pre-registration is $25 and is available at gotrwnc.org/rise-shine-5k/. Girls on the Run past or present participants can register for a discounted rate of $15. This is a family-friendly event and will feature special children’s age divisions.

“Girls on the Run is famous for making running FUN! Not only do you get breakfast at this finish line, but we have wonderful prizes thanks to the generosity of local businesses. The overall female and male winners will each get a fully-guided raft trip for two from the NOC, valued at $100. Others will win gift cards from places like Dick’s Sporting Goods, REI, B.B. Barns and Ultimate Ice Cream,” said Robin Mehler, Community Outreach Manager for GOTRWNC.

Girls on the Run offers 12-week, 24-lesson programs in the fall and spring, which combine training for a non-competitive 5K (3.1 miles) running event with self-esteem building, uplifting team exercise activities and a community service project. Through interactive activities such as running, playing games, and discussing important issues, participants learn how to celebrate being girls. The Girls on the Run curricula offers a holistic approach to all aspects of girls’ developments – their physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual well-being. The goals of the curricula are to increase self-esteem, improve body image and self-concept, set and accomplish goals, create a stronger sense of identity and community, and improve attitudes towards physical activity. The grand finale of the 12-week program is a celebratory 5K where all 600+ participants from across 14 counties come together with volunteer coaches, family and friends, and the general community to accomplish the goal of finishing a 5K.

For more information about the Rise n’ Shine 5K, contact Robin Mehler at 828-713-2321. For more information about GOTRWNC, please call Amy Renigar, Executive Director, at 828-713-4290 or visit the website gotrwnc.

Girls on the Run’s mission is “inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.”