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CHANGING LIVES Girls on the Run focuses on social, emotional, and physical health

BY LAUREN H. DOWDLE

While the name might be Girls on the Run, there’s so much more to this program than a focus on fitness. Established in Charlotte, N.C., in 1996, Girls on the Run came to Birmingham nearly a decade ago. With 700 girls involved here last year, Girls on the Run is for third through fifth grade, and there’s also a middle-school program, Heart & Sole.

The program gives girls a place to learn, grow, talk about their feelings, and become more confident, says Rebecca McWilliams, executive director of Girls on the Run. Though they are holding virtual meetings now because of the pandemic, the girls used to meet after school with volunteer coaches, many who taught at their schools.

A typical meeting for a Girls on the Run team would include a dynamic discussion — like about negative and positive self-talk — activities, and a physical activity. In addition to working on their emotional, physical, and social wellbeing during the meetings, the girls also participate in community impact projects. As a team, they think about who and what they’re grateful for and how they can give back to them.

The group at Mountain Brook Elementary made cards to thank the environmental services janitorial staff. “They had a great time putting notes out and decorating them, and the staff felt so appreciated,” McWilliams says. Other groups have done service projects for the homeless, children in the hospital, nursing home residents, rescue animals, and more. “The girls feel good about themselves when they do something for someone else,” McWilliams says.

Another important part of Girls on the Run is their annual 5K event, something the girls train for during the program. “I watch each girl cross the finish line, and they are so proud of themselves — and their families are so proud of them,” McWilliams says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s the first girl or the last girl to cross the finish line.”

None of that would be possible without the volunteer coaches. “It’s not about the running or the competition,” McWilliams says. “The coaches say they want to be part of someone’s live to help them feel good about themselves.”

Besides being a coach, there are other ways community members can support the group. About 70 percent of the girls involved are given financial aid to participate, making donations of all sizes vital to the organization. They’ve even had children hold lemonade stands to help raise money for Girls on the Run. “We couldn’t do what we do without donations from people,” McWilliams says. “No matter the size of the donation, it makes an impact.”

Registration for Girls on the Run normally opens in August and January, with seasons running from September to November and February to April. The organization would also like to launch a summer camp, but all of the details will depend on the status of the pandemic.

For more information or to donate, visit Gotrbham.org.