By Edir Coronado
The Girls On The Run (GOTR) program was introduced to Woodland school in Warren, NJ this year. GOTR is a national 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which focuses on developing young girl’s confidence using positive reinforcement, strong role models, and responsive games. The 10-12 week curriculum creatively uses running as a vehicle to support what the girls have learned.
Coach Yee Jao and Coach Laura Kerr manage the program at Woodland school. The coaches partner up with volunteers like Karen Madura and Eva Palumbl to go over the day’s curriculum, conduct a light warm-up, and run laps around the school yard. As the girls complete a lap the coaches hand out, what they call, a lap band. Coach Jao explained the symbolic nature of the lap band, “the girls are throwing away their negative cords and creating a Girls On The Run cord,” she added, “everything having to do with Girls On The Run is positive.”
At the end of the program the girls are encouraged to run in a celebratory 5k, Coach Kerr explained the girls are not expected or forced to participate. The girls are taught that it does not matter whether they run or walk, just as long as they keep moving. Currently, all of the girls are ecstatic about the upcoming run. While the GOTR program has received immense support from parents, school officials, and participants, Coach Jao explained, there is still a need for more. Community members can donate healthy snacks or volunteer during the GOTR practice sessions, held on Tuesdays and Fridays between 3:20 p.m. and 4:35 p.m.
Community members are welcomed to register as a participant, volunteer, and/or donate for the 5k run, held on June 19th, 2016 at 9:30 a.m in Downtown Somerville, NJ. For information on how to get involved with the practice sessions contact Coach Yee Jao at 908-391-7630. To register for the 5k visit: www.gotrcnj.org
