On Saturday, April 30th, 2016 at 8:30 a.m 13 girls from Girls on the Run grades 3-5th and 7 junior high girls from Heart and Sole grades 6-8th ran a 5K in Wesley Bolin Memorial Park in downtown Phoenix with hundreds of other girls from across the valley not all of them were wearing bright pink capes, tutus, and sparkles but they all were wearing big smiles! The event was a culminating activity after 10 weeks of mentorship and activities centered around fostering a greater sense of girl empowerment, leadership, social skills and the fundamental understanding of identity. The girls were treated to live music, face painting, hair spraying and tons of other free gifts and activities.
The event paired each girl with a Running Buddy either a parent, teacher, friend or community volunteer. ACA had 9 teachers volunteer to serve as Running Buddies to 9 of the ACA girls in this year’s race. Each girl and her Running Buddy received a medal after crossing the finish line. GOTR and Heart and Sole has grown from just 8 girls last year to now 20 girls this year. Each year brings about a greater impact to the girls at ACA and the community in which each girl lives.
This season’s coaches were Mrs. Pullins, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Amador, and Mrs. Allen.
