Volunteers sought for Girls on the Run event May 16

Wed, May 6, 2009

The 2009 Girls on the Run Celebration 5K run for North Ottawa County will be held Saturday, May 16, at Lakeshore Middle School, 900 Cutler St.

At least 100 volunteers are being sought to help run the event that typically attracts more than 3,000 spectators.

Participants will arrive by 9:15 a.m. and begin the pep rally at 9:30 a.m. The run will begin at 10 a.m.

School districts participating in the North Ottawa event include: Allendale, Coopersville, Grand Haven, Hudsonville, Jenison and Spring Lake. The course will consist of one 5-kilometer loop on the streets of Grand Haven.

Program Coordinator Ashley Rea said volunteers are needed for a number of tasks on the morning of the event.

"We need people to cheer on the girls as they run the course, help with traffic control and safety, set up and tear down, serve refreshments, and sell merchandise," she said. "This year we have a new event, the 'Happy Hair Station' — where girls can get a fun, colorful hairdo before the run."

Volunteer information and applications are available on the event's Web site: www.gotroac.org . Volunteers may also call Girls on the Run staff at (616) 494-1732 or e-mail Rea at ashleyr@aplaceforwomen.org.

"We welcome all sectors of the community to join us in congratulating the girls on another successful season of accomplishing their goals," Rea said. "... We also applaud the dedication of our over 300 coaches in Ottawa and Allegan counties — as well as our sponsors, parents, teachers and supporters."

The Ottawa and Allegan chapter is affiliated with the Center for Women in Transition. It is currently the fourth-largest Girls on the Run program in North America, with more than 1,500 girls participating in the two-county region.

"We have a mission to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living," Rea explained. "The 10-week program for third through eighth grades combines interactive workouts and training for the 5K event. The lessons encourage emotional, social, mental, spiritual, and physical health and development. The objective is to reduce the potential display of at-risk activities including eating disorders, depression, substance abuse and teen pregnancy."