Girls on the Run - Twin Cities Launches Lake Harriet and Edgerton Programs - Announcing New Presence

March 5, 2012 - PRLog -- Lake Harriet Upper Campus and Edgerton Maplewood were chosen this year by Girls on the Run Twin Cities as the first sites of the new program launch of the Twin Cities chapter.  Girls on the Run is an after-school life-skills and physical activities program designed for girls currently enrolled in the 3rd - 5th grades.  The carefully selected sites of Lake Harriet Upper Campus - Minneapolis and Edgerton - Maplewood will be the first groups to participate in the Twin Cities program that teaches healthy lifestyle habits through group sessions and running sessions.  The end of each program is marked by a 5K in mid-May.

“We strive to teach young girls the power of healthy self-esteem and lifelong benefits of exercise,” said Kori Fitschen, Co-Founder and Director of the Twin Cities chapter.  “We essentially are promoting positive youth development through physical activity.  Our programs teach young girls the value of setting goals, teamwork, and the skills needed to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyle habits through running.”

“The program launch in the Twin Cities is a significant sign of progress for our organization.  Our group is about inspiring positive change in our young girls by taking physical exercise and combining it with the right life skills for a healthy future as young confident women,” said Fitschen.

Despite an active Twin Cities community committed to physical activity, health and philanthropy, girls in the Twin Cities still face common adolescent risks. Teen pregnancy rates in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties are the highest in the state (32.4 births per 1,000 teenage females) and 64% of ninth grade girls in Hennepin County report trying to lose weight. Additionally, 20% report fasting or skipping meals and 3% report inducing vomiting after meals.

Girls on the Run is a 501c3 non-profit whose programs are supported by donations.  The Girls on the Run curricula addresses all aspects of girls’ developments – their physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual well-being with such topics as the importance of keeping commitments, supporting each other’s goals, and good communication skills.  The curricula also prepares the girls to participate in a 5K run at the end of the program.

Girls on the Run has several upcoming events, including hour-long group fitness classes the first Saturday of every month from 9-10am. These events are hosted at the Athleta Edina store on 50th and France, who is a sponsor of Girls on the Run. For more information about events and Girls on the Run Twin Cities, please visit the website at http://www.gotrtwincities.org, call 651-301-9428, or email at GOTRtwincities@gmail.com.  Girls on the Run’s mission is “inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.”

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