This week I started another new adventure. I joined several other volunteers in a 10-week program coaching 8 to 13-year-old girls with the goal of “creating cultural transformation where all girls recognize their individual power and are able to reach their highest potential.” Although on the surface the purpose is for the girls to run a 5K race at the end of the program, the real goal is for them to learn about making, being, and choosing friends, working together as a team, communicating, learning self-confidence, dealing with emotions, giving back and a lot more about life in general. I love the idea of teaching girls at this young age to learn to love who they are and have the confidence to be who they want to be without fear of what others may think. It took me decades to learn some of that.

What is amazing to me is that 20 years ago someone took it upon themselves to start this organization that was eventually built it into a nationwide network (225 councils in all 50 states) that reaches schools in every state in the nation with over 350 races run, develop an incredible 200 plus page handbook with meaningful exercises to teach the lessons each week and hire professionals to train a 100,000 strong volunteer network to do this great work. All of the volunteers on my team are either teachers or moms, all of whom have plenty of other things to do but are choosing to be with these girls once or twice a week for 3 months to help with this worthy cause.

I volunteered to help with Girls on the Run because the vision of the organization “a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams” is aligned with the vision I have for every woman I work with in my coaching practice. Think how amazing these girls can be if they start at ages 8 to 13 thinking they can do whatever they want and begin to help others to do the same. I am excited to be a part of this cause and am even more excited to see what I learn from the girls and women I will be spending time with over the next few months.   Who knows, I may even run that 5K with them. I’m in week four and the C25K app hasn’t beat me yet!!

To learn more about this great organization, to donate, or volunteer, go to https://www.girlsontherun.org.