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Girls on the Run YMCA Promote Health, Self-Esteem
Girls on the Run and new boys program STRIDE will celebrate the end of a 10-week program with a 5K run at Kensington Park
DETROIT (October 25, 2013) – The YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit will celebrate the end of a successful season of “Girls on the Run” on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. when 1,100 girls participate in the “Girls on the Run of Greater Detroit 5K” on the beautiful landscape of Kensington Metro Park.
The non-competitive and untimed 5K run will mark the completion of a 10-week program called “Girls on the Run.” The Greater Detroit chapter is an affiliate program of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit and Girls on the Run International.
“This year YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit is implementing an initiative for boys called STRIDE, which is an acronym for Success, Teamwork, Respect, Inspiration, Determination, and Excellence of Character. It’s similar to Girls on the Run in that each session starts with a discussion of character-building topics before a training run,” said Jacqueline Kippen, council director for Girls on the Run of Metropolitan Detroit. Some of the issues addressed include bullying, what makes a good friend, healthy eating, and goal-setting. “The program is about setting boys on the path to becoming men of good character,” says Jason Johnson, a personal trainer at The South Oakland Y who is running the program.
More than 2500 participants, from third through eighth grade, learn life lessons through running with the Girls on The Run and STRIDE program. Not only do they develop themselves as runners — a physical activity they can enjoy for a lifetime — they learn lessons about self-esteem, peer pressure, and stress management, among other themes.
“The Girls on the Run philosophy is to teach girls to honor their bodies, celebrate their voices, embrace their gifts and activate their power, said Kippen. “We have grown significantly over the years. We will have a stage, DJs and we are taking over the entire Maple Beach area of Kensington Park,” Kippen also stated.
There are more than 98 teams from 70 schools and organizations participating in the run. Nationally there are 80,000 girls that participate in the Girls on the Run Program which was started in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“We use running as the means to educate girls about positive self image and life skills. We teach them to be the best they can become,” said Kippen. “We want to girls to be emotionally and physically healthy.”
The Girls on the Run program combats negative messages with exercise and mentoring relationships to educate and empower girls at an early age to prevent the display of at-risk activities in the future. The program is proven to help young girls gain a stronger sense of identity, self-confidence, a healthy body image and learn how to be a team player.
Girls on the Run is the leading positive youth development program for girls with evidence-based results. Unlike traditional athletic programs, Girls on the Run combines physical activity with self improvement philosophies to mold healthy attitudes about exercise, body image and eating.
Girls on the Run would also like to thank the sponsors; The Junior League of Birmingham, Precor, DJ Knight, and Culligan for their support. The fall season ends with a non-competitive 5K run on November 17, 2013. To register for the program, donate in-kind times, volunteer or to learn more information, please visit www.gotrdetroit.org.
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About Girls on the Run International
Girls on the Run® is a life-changing, experiential learning programs for girls age eight to thirteen years old. The programs combine training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development. For more information, visit www.gotrdetroit.org.
About Stride
STRIDE is a fun fitness and running program for boys in grades 3 through 5. Boys have the chance to share their thoughts and opinions about various life topics in a safe, encouraging environment that helps them develop character, while building their running endurance to compete in a 5K.
Success, Teamwork, Respect, Inspiration, Determination = Excellence in Character.
About the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Throughout Metro Detroit, Y's engage more than 300,000 men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the region’s health and well-being and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in communities throughout Metro Detroit, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. For more information go to www.ymcadetroit.org or contact Chad Creekmore at (313) 223-2487.
