Chase your dreams and celebrate all girls being happy, healthy and confident at the Girls on the Run 5K run and walk at Asheville Outlets at 9:30 am on Sunday, Dec. 4th.
Hundreds of the participants will be 3rd through 8th grade girls from 11 counties in Western North Carolina who have trained with volunteer coaches at 34 sites for 10 weeks as part of the Girls on the Run program, which combines running with lessons about important topics such as preventing bullying and processing emotions. The 5K is the culminating event of the fall season.
“We are excited for the community to join us in celebrating with 510 local girls who have been empowered this fall to boldly pursue their dreams and become the leaders of tomorrow,” said Amy Renigar, Executive Director of Girls on the Run of Western North Carolina. “Being part of a Girls on the Run 5K is an experience you will not soon forget.”
Girls on the Run of Western North Carolina began with 20 girls in 2002 and has now served more than 11,000 girls. In 2016, more than 1,200 girls have taken part in the life-changing program and have learned to believe in their own limitless potential.
The 5K is family-friendly, non-competitive and open to the public. Runners and walkers of all ages and levels are encouraged to register. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Girls on the Run of Western North Carolina scholarship fund, which aims to make the non-profit’s program accessible to all girls in the community, regardless of their ability to pay the registration fee.
“At Girls on the Run, it is our policy to never turn away a girl based on financial need, so your registration will help enable us to reach more girls,” said Renigar. “This fall, 80 percent of our program sites are Title 1 schools, so we provided an additional $35,000 to ensure the girls in-need have healthy snacks, athletic shoes and scholarship assistance.”
Online registration is $15 and is available through noon on Friday, Dec. 2. Registration will also be open on race day at Asheville Outlets starting at 8:30 a.m. for $20.