Girls on the Run and Junior League of Columbia join forces to promote healthy lifestyles
April 21, 2016
Girls on the Run of Columbia (GOTR) and the Junior League of Columbia, Inc. (JLC) are joining forces on April 30 to inspire local youth to be healthy, happy and confident. JLC will host their annual Healthy Kids Fun Fair at the Historic Columbia Speedway, alongside the finish line of the GOTR 5k, presented by the City of Cayce. The event will be attended by more than 2,000 people, including 1,300 participants in the 5k.
Girls on the Run is a physical-activity based, positive youth development (PA-PYD) program that prepares 3rd to 8th grade girls for a 5k event and helps them develop key life skills. Volunteer-led teams meet twice a week throughout the season and participate in lessons that foster the girls’ confidence, help them build connections with peers and improve their communication skills, and encourage meaningful contribution to their community through a service project. The celebratory 5k is a noncompetitive event that provides girls with a goal to work toward during the season and shows them that the finish line is just the beginning when it comes to going after their dreams.
The JLC Healthy Kids Fun Fair is designed for elementary school-aged kids and their families. More than 20 vendors will provide free healthy lifestyle lessons, vision and hearing screenings, exercise resources and healthy recipes. A car seat inspector will help families check the safety of their car seat. There will also be a kids fun run for children ages 8 and younger, along with free games, entertainment, door prizes, and healthy snacks.
Both the 5k and Healthy Kids Fun Fair are open to the public. Participants may register for the 5k online or on-site, or join the JLC at the finish line for lots of free activities and resources.
For more information about the event, how to register and volunteer opportunities, visit GOTRcolumbia.org or call 803-764-4634.
About Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development program for 3rd-8th grade girls that has served over one million girls across the country. Participants develop and improve competence, feel confidence in who they are, develop strength of character, respond to others and oneself with care, create positive connections with peers and adults and make a meaningful contribution to community and society. Each session is led by trained volunteer coaches that guide and mentor the girls. The 10-week program concludes with all participants completing a celebratory 5k event which gives them a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals.
About Junior League of Columbia
The Junior League of Columbia, Inc. is an organization of women committed to the promotion of volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. Together, the members of Junior League of Columbia, Inc. seek to strengthen the health and well-being of children and families in the Midlands. For more information, visit jlcolumbia.org.
