We were pleased to see the photo in the Gazette’s news section of Girls on The Run’s recent 5K at Springfield College earlier this month. But there is far more to the story.
While the 10-week program culminates in the high-energy, celebratory run depicted in the photo, its broader — and deeper — mission is to inspire girls to be confident, healthy and joyful using an experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running.
The strong social-emotional program focuses on how to stand up for yourself and others, choosing your friends, gratitude/compassion, and expressing yourself.
All schools with a GOTR program do a Community Impact Project. And with 57 percent of participants receiving financial aid, no one is turned away. There is nothing else like it in the Valley.
Open to girls in the 3rd-8th grades, GOTR programs rely on nearly 300 volunteer coaches a season — parents, teachers, school staff and community members — and serve all four counties in western Massachusetts. In Hampshire County, GOTR is in the Northampton, Easthampton, Hatfield, Hadley, Amherst, Southampton, Westhampton, Williamsburg, and Belchertown elementary schools. More schools will be added this fall.
Now in its fourth year, GOTR is reaching new heights. This spring, GOTR had 950 girls participating and has served 1,600 total this calendar year.
The recent 5K boasted a whopping 2,000 runners and about 1,000 spectators. For many of the girls who take part, GOTR is a rare, affordable opportunity to challenge themselves to grow, build community and participate in sports — often for the first time in their lives.
GOTR will hold its next 5K at Smith College this fall. We hope the Gazette will cover this uniquely valuable program on the front page, where it belongs.
Carrie Cuthbert &
Scott Laidlaw
Florence
The letter was also signed by Patsy Kauffman Barber, Nicole L’Heureux, Rachel Broudy, Vikki Lenhart, Shonda Pettiford, Tina Cornell and Ashley Grant.