Girls on the Run to join Great Strides at Lee
“Girls on the Run has a celebration 5K at the end of each season, and it’s super pink and super fun. … But by the time our 5K comes around, Lee students will be out of school at that point,” Girls on the Run Program Coordinator Ally Seward said. “The ‘Snora’ girls knew that and really wanted to do a race with them, so they were like, ‘That would be fun if they did 65 Roses with us.’”
Photo by Katie Hunley
Girls on the Run is partnering with Nora Chambers and Simmons Halls to join Great Strides’ mission of finding a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Every March, Lee University hosts Great Strides and the 65 Roses 5K. There are many groups that come and walk for specific people, but this year Girls on the Run is joining for the first time.
Girls on the Run is a nationwide nonprofit organization that encourages young girls to live joyful, healthy and confident lives. The nonprofit incorporates running into the curriculum they use, which is all about healthy living—mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically.
Girls on the Run does not make all girls run at Great Strides. All they ask is that the girls keep moving forward, whether by dancing, skipping, hopping, running or walking. Girl on the Run is split into two different groups, elementary school girls and middle school girls, who make up a branch called Heart and Sole.
This year, residents of Nora Chambers and Simmons Halls, collectively nicknamed “Snora,” have chosen Girls on the Run as their dorm-sponsored organization.
“Snora” Resident Director Hannah Gilstrap said she chose Girls on the Run because she is friends with the program coordinator. She also chose the organization because she enjoys running herself and is very passionate about holistic approaches to healthy living.
“I think they do it well,” Gilstrap said. “I think Girls on the Run teaches young students to value themselves and believe in themselves but also the physical aspect of saying, ‘Okay, let’s set goals and help them achieve them while also instilling in them worth and confidence.’”
Once Gilstrap decided on this nonprofit, she brought it to her residential life team. They said they loved the idea.
Senior sociology major Elisabeth Musacchio is on a small committee within the residential life staff that works with Girls on the Run. The committee came up with the idea of running with the girls in Great Strides.
“Great Strides is something that our staff and dorm participate in every year,” Musacchio said. “We thought this would be a great way for us to spend time with Girls on the Run and support the amazing work that Great Strides is doing for research in cystic fibrosis. … My plan is definitely to run with the girls. I just hope that I can keep up with them.”
Ally Seward, program coordinator of Girls on the Run, said she was thrilled about the idea of participating in Great Strides.
“Girls on the Run has a celebration 5K at the end of each season, and it’s super pink and super fun. … But by the time our 5K comes around, Lee students will be out of school at that point,” Seward said. “The ‘Snora’ girls knew that and really wanted to do a race with them, so they were like, ‘That would be fun if they did 65 Roses with us.’”
Be sure to look out for Girls on the Run with the residents from “Snora” running on March 30. Registration for the run and the walk opens at 7 a.m., and the race begins at 9 a.m.
For more information about Girls on the Run, contact Ally Seward at ally.seward@girlsontherun.org.
