Girls on the Run at VHEW

An enthusiastic group of third-grade girls from Vestavia Hills Elementary West took part this year in Girls on the Run, an international, nonprofit program founded in North Carolina in 1996. The program inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident, while also teaching life skills through interactive lessons and running games. VHEW is the first Vestavia school to start its own Girls on the Run team, and this year was the school’s second year to participate.

Girls on the Run is focused on third- through eighth-grade girls. West’s team was under the direction of teachers Nancy Littleton, Donna Dahl and Abigale Watkins, along with help from Girls on the Run volunteer Susan Andreae. The girls met twice a week for over an hour. Each meeting included a lesson, strengthening and stretching exercises, and a running workout. The lessons inspired the girls to stay true to themselves, embrace the power within them, and honor their bodies. The semester-long session culminated in a celebratory 5K run at Veterans Park in May.

The team also coordinated a service project to benefit survivors of the recent earthquake in Nepal. Team members invited West students to participate in Tacky Day. Students donated at least $1 for the chance to wear their favorite tacky outfits. More than $1,000 was raised and will be donated to UNICEF for earthquake relief. For more information about Girls on the Run in the Birmingham area, go to girlsontherunbham.org.