Girls on The Run underway at Lew-Port

The third spring season of the Girls on the Run program has begun on the Lewiston-Porter campus. Seventeen girls from the Primary and Intermediate education centers will participate in the 2017 season, which began Monday, March 21, and runs through Sunday, June 4.

The after-school program is open to girls in grades 3-5, inspiring them to be joyful, healthy and confident using experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running.

Girls on the Run is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization "dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams." Meeting twice a week in small teams, participants become familiar in life skills through dynamic, conversation-based lessons and running games. The 20-lesson curriculum is taught by certified Girls on the Run coaches and includes three parts: Understanding ourselves, valuing relationships and teamwork, and understanding how we connect with and shape the world at large.

Running is used to inspire and motivate the students, encourage lifelong health and fitness, and build confidence through accomplishment. At each season's conclusion, the girls and their running buddies complete a 5K running event on the University at Buffalo campus. Completing a 5K gives the girls a tangible sense of achievement, as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. The result: Making the seemingly impossible, possible and teaching girls that they can do anything they set their minds to.

Coaches Ann Marie Oliverio and Mary Kofahl are excited to once again team up to lead the PEC/IEC team.

"We had a very successful season last year, and we are looking forward to coaching a wonderful new team!" Oliverio said.

Visit the Girls on the Run website (gotrbuffalo.org), or Lewiston-Porter website (www.lew-port.com; link on the PEC's and IEC's webpage), for more information and updates, or contact Oliverio at [email protected].

(Photo by Ann Marie Oliverio)