Sixteen lucky girls from Ruby Drive Elementary School received a brand new pair of running shoes on Thursday, Oct. 22, courtesy of the running brand Asics, through a partnership with the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Girls on the Run.<\/p>\n
These third through the fifth grade students participate in the Girls on the Run program, a 10-week running-based after-school activity at Ruby Drive.<\/p>\n
The mission of Girls on the Run is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. Throughout the season, the girls make new friends, build their confidence and celebrate all that makes them unique.<\/p>\n
Representatives from Girls on the Run Orange County, along with a team from Asics, were on hand after school on Thursday to present the running shoes to the girls, along with a backpack full of running-related goodies, such as a water bottle and athletic socks. Asics provided the fun fitness gear to the girls free of charge.<\/p>\n
This is the first year the program has been at Ruby Drive. Last year, it was held at Mabel Paine Elementary School. The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) hopes to expand the program to more elementary school sites in near future.<\/p>\n
The girls, under the guidance of Ruby Drive teachers Alesa Kerr, Ligia Alvarado and Sofia Vander Kooy-Hervey, meet two days a week after school. They talk about life skills, including having a positive self-image, healthy behaviors and supporting each other, and then they go on a short run.<\/p>\n
At the end of the program, the girls and their supporters can also take part in a 5K.<\/p>\n
Ruby Drive is one of only four Orange County schools participating in this exciting program.<\/p>\n
For more information on Girls on the Run Orange County, visit www.girlsontherunoc.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n