Guest Post: Girls on the Run of Greater Cincinnati

Family Friendly Cincinnati is excited to welcome Erin Hamilton, Council Director, with Girls on the Run of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. Girls on the Run is a wonderful organization that teaches pre-teen girls to develop healthy lifestyles through running.

Nine hundred preteen girls in greater Cincinnati are taking a giant step closer to higher levels of self-esteem, improved eating attitudes and improved body images thanks to the power of Girls on the Run of Greater Cincinnati, Inc. (GOTR), a nationally-recognized, non-profit prevention program that encourages preteen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. This spring, it has been our privilege to offer our unique GOTR programs at 71 locations (area schools and community centers) in greater Cincinnati.

Through one-hour after-school sessions, GOTR combines training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goal of the sessions is to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development. Our participants are learning first-hand, valuable life-lessons that will give them the tools to make healthy decisions and form healthy self-images.

In addition to a new lesson each week, our participants train to participate in a 5K race at the end of the season.  It’s really neat to watch the girls increase their ability a little bit each week, to the point where they will be able to complete 3.1 miles. Finishing a 5K is a wonderful accomplishment at any age, and the girls will be moved to achieve this milestone.

The end of our twelve-week season is drawing near, and the pre-teen girls – along with their supporters and running buddies – will come together to participate in their very own 5K event, which will take place on May 7 at Paul Brown Stadium.

I’d like to personally invite you to walk or run our race next to our amazing participants.

You can expect pre-race fun starting at 9AM, with tiara decorating, hair coloring, and face painting. Every child will also receive a medal and goody bag at the end of the race. All race proceeds will benefit Girls on the Run programs in Greater Cincinnati.

This is a unique opportunity for adult runners and walkers to join more than 900 pre-teen girls in their first 5K accomplishment. Runners will have the enjoyment of the race as well as knowing that they are supporting local pre-teen girls at the same time. We continue to provide over half of our participants with financial assistance through sponsorships, donations, and race day registration.

GOTR provides guidance at a crucial time in a pre-teen’s life. Alarmingly, almost two-thirds of girls in 5^th –12^th grade are dissatisfied with their body shape and want to lose weight. We’ve learned that girls who participate in physical activities have higher levels of self-esteem, better body images, lower levels of depression and are 40% less likely to smoke.

The proven success of GOTR – a national program with trusted sponsors like New Balance and Secret operating nearly 110 chapters across the United States and Canada – is another reason why the organization is flourishing in Cincinnati.

We are in our 6^th year in Cincinnati and on track to reach our 5,000^th program participant in the Fall. Our goal is to reach every 3^rd – 8^th grade girl in our area with this important program.

For more information about GOTR Cincinnati, please call (513) 321-1056 or send an e-mail to [email protected] or visit www.gotrcincinnati.org.

 

Want to help provide the lessons and positive role model support of Girls on the Run?
Support a life-changing program for girls and reach hundreds of Greater Cincinnati families.

Each year, over 900 local girls are only able to join Girls on the Run because we are able to provide scholarships. Without this financial support, those girls wouldn’t be able to participate.

Please consider sponsoring a girl for $150. We will apply your gift to where it is needed most, so that we can continue to reach every girl with interest regardless of her family’s ability to pay http://gotrcincinnati.org/support/donate.asp.