Girls on the Run Picks Up Speed

By Alyssia Dryden, The News Herald, Panama City, Fla.

Mar. 9–The Junior Service League of Panama City is sponsoring Girls on the Run, an international mentoring program launched in 2006 that focuses on developing self respect and healthy lifestyles through running.

In its second year in Bay County, Girls on the Run, said a news release, is a 12-week character-building program facilitated by schoolteachers who volunteer with the Junior Service League.

It addresses the physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual well-being of girls in the third, fourth, and fifth grades.

The program has two workouts each week after school that serve to enhance self-esteem. It concludes with a noncompetetive 5K race to benefit the Humane Society.

“The main objective of Girls on the Run is to reduce the potential display of at-risk activities among the participating young girls by promoting a healthy lifestyle, camaraderie, a sense of accomplishment and self respect,” said Alisa Stone Herring, a Junior Service League volunteer and the Girls on the Run program director.

Girls on the Run has a national curriculum that focuses on three concepts to promote a life-changing experience:

Weeks 1-4: All About Me…Getting to Know Who I Am and What I Stand For.

Weeks 5-8: Building my Team…Understanding the Importance of Cooperation.

Weeks 9-12: Community Begins with Me…Learning about Community and Designing our Own Community Project

The Junior Service League funds Girls on the Run with a percentage of profits from the annual Holly Fair and has committed to increasing Girls on the Run to include more schools and participants.

This year, participants include 80 local preteens from Hutchison Beach Elementary, Hiland Park Elementary, Holy Nativity School and Northside Elementary.

It also is responsible for providing and training coaches and mentors at each participating school.

Applications are provided to participating schools through teachers.

For more information, call the Junior Service League at (850) 785-7870 or see www.jslpanamacity.org or www.girlsontherun.org

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Copyright (c) 2008, The News Herald, Panama City, Fla.

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