As a Pittsburgh Health Corps Member we are asked to complete an outside project that impacts the community. I decided to partner with the international organization Girls on the Run, which is an afterschool program for girls in grades 3-5 and Girls on Track 6-8 grades. The research based curriculum focus on the whole person where girls learn about social-emotional health, peer pressure, and nutrition while training for a 5K. I had the privilege of serving as an assistant coach at Bellevue Elementary with two other coaches and a group of 16 girls. Each week we met on Tuesdays and Thursdays for an hour and a half, over a 12-week period. During this time I learned so much from the girls and was able to complete the 5k at the end.
This project was near and dear to me because I am passionate about the mission and the founder, Molly Barker, and her dream of celebrating the whole person. Girls, and in my case coaches, come together to train for this 5k which is all about goal setting and striving towards a goal with the support of a team. I enjoyed the weekly sessions, co-teaching lessons, and facilitating the activities. It all came together at the race. Over 1,200 girls from all over Allegheny and the surrounding counties came together with their families to participate in the 5k. The atmosphere was so charged with energy and excitement, It was wonderful being part of such an event.
