News & Events

NCCHW to Co-Sponsor Girls on the Run 10th Anniversary Celebration

April 17, 2012

Girls on the Run (GOTR) of Western North Carolina will celebrate its 10-year anniversary on Sunday, April 29 from 2-4:00 p.m. at the Sherrill Center – Kimmel Arena at UNC Asheville. The event is open to all, but specifically honors the girls, parents, coaches and volunteers who have helped fulfill GOTR's mission to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. GOTR of WNC began with 30 girls in 2002 and has now served more than 6,200.

GOTR gave me the opportunity to run with other girls my age and become better friends with them while establishing a running base. At a young age GOTR informed me of harmful habits and substances and the long lasting effects associated with them, which completely steered me clear of ever using drugs or smoking..."--Rachel Newcomb, GOTR participant 2003

Program participants, past and present; parents/caregivers and families; volunteer coaches; school principals; sponsors; community volunteers and board members are all invited to attend. Many fun, kid-friendly activities are planned for the afternoon event including: honors and recognition for participants and volunteers, Jolly Balloon Smiths, inflatable/bouncy castle, hula hooping with Hooping Hearts, Sweet Tees Indoor Mini-golf, inspiration flags, celebration photos on the pink carpet by Michelle Marie Allen Photography, face painting, local food from Short Street Cakes and Take the Cake, and much more.

The North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness (NCCHW) became a partner of Girls on the Run of Western North Carolina in 2010. In addition to sponsoring their 10-year celebration, the NCCHW has played host to several seasonal coaches' trainings with the next being held August 25 in the Sherrill Center. Laurie Stradley, the director of state and community collaborations for the NCCHW says of the partnership, "Girls on the Run of WNC has been empowering girls to become strong, independent, healthy young women in this region for ten years. The N.C. Center for Health & Wellness is proud to collaborate and celebrate ten years of an incredible program that has impacted over 6,000 young women from this region.  I look forward to the next ten years, so my daughter will have the opportunity to join in the fun!"

More information on the 10 year party can be found at: http://www.gotrwnc.org/10-years/