Girls on the Run of Midland & Gladwin Counties complete largest season yet during New Balance 5k Run within the Dow RunWalk

~Jasmine Rios, age 10, is Awarded the  “Coach Roni’s Kid” Award

Over 200 girls from Midland & Gladwin Counties met their season goals of completing a 5K on Saturday, June 4th. 
Girls on the Run participants were joined by over 200 Running Buddies, who were recruited from the girls’ families and from the community.

The Girls on the Run Program, a program of the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (Shelterhouse), is a life-changing prevention program for girls in the 3rd through 5th grade.  Girls on the Run combines training for a 5K (3.1 miles) running event with healthy living education. The program instills self-esteem through health education, life skills development, mentoring relationships, and physical training - all of which are accomplished through an active collaboration with girls and their parents, schools, volunteers, staff, and the community.

Sara JacobsCarter, Council Director for the local chapter of Girls on the Run, was extremely pleased by the large turn-out to the event.  “The girls, their families, and our incredible volunteers all came together to make the day an outstanding success.  All of our girls achieved their 5K goal and looked fantastic doing it!”
Prior to the race, the girls were able to decorate and creatively style their hair with Happy Hair products by Goody, a national sponsor of Girls on the Run.  Girls on the Run of Midland & Gladwin Counties was selected as a recipient of the Goody Happy Hair station and all Happy Hair products were donated for the girls to enjoy.

At the presentations prior to the start of the event, JacobsCarter awarded Jasmine Rios, age 10, with the “Coach Roni’s Kid” award.  The “Coach Roni’s Kid” award is presented to one girl each season in honor of Veronica Galeaz-Holder, a former head coach for Girls on the Run.  Girls on the Run Coach Joyce Killian nominated Rios for the award, saying “she is always positive, willing and able to do all of our activities with enthusiasm, and even stays behind to help the others who are having a tough time achieving their goals.  We are so proud of her!!”  Rios was a member of the newly formed Adams Elementary Girls on the Run team.

For more information about Girls on the Run or to learn about how to get involved with the program, contact Council Director Sara JacobsCarter at 989-835-6771.