Girls on the Run of Buffalo, a non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident, held a celebratory 5K on Sunday morning.
The run, which took place at University at Buffalo's North Campus, showcased 1300 elementary school girls from across Western New York.
Girls on the Run is a learning program for girls ages 8 to 13. They teach life skills through conversation-based lessons and running games. Over 100 local schools offered Girls on the Run as part of an after-school program this spring, which was run by more than 300 volunteer coaches.
The goal of the program is to create confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness.
"Our spring 5K is always an exciting day for the girls, their families and coaches. There is so much energy and enthusiasm from our runners and we are so proud of all of them as they cross the finish line." said Katie Joyce, Council Director for Girls on the Run of Buffalo.
"Over the course of 10 weeks, they have discovered how to be positive about themselves and others through an interactive curriculum which combines group discussion with fun running games, eventually training them to run a 5K event."
Girls on the Run International has grown to more than 200 cities across North America, serving over 50,000 girls annually. Girls on the Run of Buffalo just finished its 12th season in Western New York.
