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North America has some of the most promising opportunities in the world, many resulting from the dominance of the United States in the global economy. However, with opportunity comes risk, and in many ways, North America is consuming itself to death. Physically and mentally, individuals in the United States are adopting increasingly unhealthy lifestyles, leading to obesity and long-term health complications. Unhealthy choices coupled with unreasonable physical and social pressures have an intense impact on vulnerable demographics such as adolescent girls. As adolescent girls move through difficult periods of change and maturity, they often lack access to an adequate support system or appropriate health care. These young women suffer from higher rates of obesity, depression, eating disorders, and suicide than their male counterparts. Poor health and premature death are becoming a reality in the richest country in the world. |
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In the United States and in Canada, Girls on the Run targets the physical and mental health of the vulnerable and impressionable adolescent girl population. Girls on the Run Manhattan uses its national leadership and infrastructure to impact individual classrooms and athletic fields all over New York City. Girls on the Run addresses the challenges of growing up in a complicated world through a creative program that combines exercise with experimental learning and mentorship. The Girls on the Run curriculum promotes the development of the "whole" girl: physical fitness, emotional intelligence, mental strength, and social awareness. Girls on the Run Manhattan challenges 8 to 13 year old New York City girls to run, hop, skip, speed walk, or even dance toward self-confidence, personal accomplishment, and the completion of the program's goal: a 5 km running event in Central Park at the end of the semester. | |
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Like In the Running, Girls on the Run understands that sports can be a powerful tool for positive development at the individual and community levels. Evaluation by the Department of Health Behavior at UNC Charlotte shows a statistically significant improvement in body images, eating attitudes, and self-esteem among Girls on the Run program participants. Girls on the Run Manhattan serves a variety of school districts and young girls of all socio-economic, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, achieving positive results with each group. As a girl who has been "on the run" for over fifteen years, Erin believes that much of her own confidence, self-esteem, and positive outlook developed from her experiences as a runner. Running (or any other sport) gives individuals a hobby, a goal, a team, a healthy heart, and a sense of pride that develops from hard work and accomplishment. 
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