Somerset County Girls On The Run Chapter Celebrates 15 Years

Basking Ridge, NJ -- Girls on the Run in Somerset County is celebrating its 15th year anniversary.

The Central New Jersey Council for Girls on the Run was started in 2001 at the Somerset Hills YMCA in Basking Ridge.

Donna York, who grew up in Basking Ridge but now resides in Hillsborough, was asked to coach the first year then took over as council director the following year.

GOTR operated at the Somerset Hills Y for two years, but because they wanted expand outside of its coverage area York moved the chapter to Somerville. Now girls from all over Somerset County can participate.

“We started with only one elementary school in Bedminster with 40 girls and now we have 1,600 girls with chapters in almost every town in Somerset County,” York said.

Even York’s daughter has gotten on board with the program. She started coaching about five years ago and is the coach at Mount Prospect School in Basking Ridge.

“Being able to work with these young girls and see what they are going through and allow them a safe place to open up about topics, sensitive topics to some of them,” said Heather Mallery, 30, of Basking Ridge. “This day and age it is harder to talk about some issues. It’s nice to provide someone for the girls to talk to and make it fun.”

The program not only focuses on running but emotional issues.

“Anything from keeping positive friendships, gossiping and how it hurts people and staying positive in general,” Mallery said. “Teaching them about the media and the negative portrayal of women and girls.”

Over the years, York has even grown the chapter into Monmouth, Middlesex, Ocean and Camden counties.

“It’s so funny I can’t believe I’ve been doing it for 15 years.It’s just been a blur,” York said.

The GOTR season runs for 10 weeks, meeting twice a week at an area school and culminates with a 5K race on June 19. The cost is $130 for the 20 session.

Scholarships are offered to more than 200 girls through sponsorships from local businesses. Sponsorships of many levels are always being accepted. Locals can sponsor one girl, a team, or shirts.

Although the season has started, GOTR is still accepting registration.

For more information on how to sign up a girl or to sponsor contact York at donna.york@girlsontherun.org or 908-642-4321 or www.gotrcnj.org.

(Photo provided: Donna York and her daughter Heather Mallery).