A Sacramento organization is helping girls across the region gain confidence and make friends. For the 70th anniversary of KCRA, we are highlighting organizations in our area making a difference.Girls on the Run Greater Sacramento gives girls grades three through five a chance to run in groups with volunteer coaches.”You don’t need to be that girl that knows how to run at the start. We’re just moving,” said Oak Ridge Elementary Principal and GOTR coach Tiffany Whelden. “It doesn’t matter if you’re skipping, crawling, running, hopping, the point is to just move.” Volunteers say the practices usually start with a mini-lesson, then the girls get a topic they can discuss while running laps with a buddy. For example, “Talk about a time you felt scared.””There are so many emotional benefits and social benefits to running,” Whelden said. “We form bonds. We can just release. We can get the endorphins flowing, we can get that good dopamine in our system.”Students at Oak Ridge said the program makes a big difference for them.”I like being out here with my friends and coaches,” third grader Drea Westbrook said. “Running with my coaches and the principal, cause the principal a long time ago I used to have hard bad days and now she helps me.””Never give up on anything you want to achieve,” sixth grader Lola Wolf said. “Even if you want to play games that people say, ‘Oh, it’s too much like boys can play,’ don’t believe them. Play what you want to play and do what you want to do.””We see so many messages as females that say you have to do better, be more this way, and Girls on the Run really says just as you are, you’re amazing and you’re wonderful and you can do hard things,” Whelden said. Coaches not only work on running with the girls, but they also facilitate lessons on managing emotions, fostering friendships and expressing empathy. At the end of the season, the team completes a Community Impact Project and a 5K together. This year’s event takes place on May 9 in Land Park. If you’d like to volunteer, they have more information on their website. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

A Sacramento organization is helping girls across the region gain confidence and make friends.

For the 70th anniversary of KCRA, we are highlighting organizations in our area making a difference.

Girls on the Run Greater Sacramento gives girls grades three through five a chance to run in groups with volunteer coaches.

“You don’t need to be that girl that knows how to run at the start. We’re just moving,” said Oak Ridge Elementary Principal and GOTR coach Tiffany Whelden. “It doesn’t matter if you’re skipping, crawling, running, hopping, the point is to just move.”

Volunteers say the practices usually start with a mini-lesson, then the girls get a topic they can discuss while running laps with a buddy. For example, “Talk about a time you felt scared.”

“There are so many emotional benefits and social benefits to running,” Whelden said. “We form bonds. We can just release. We can get the endorphins flowing, we can get that good dopamine in our system.”

Students at Oak Ridge said the program makes a big difference for them.

“I like being out here with my friends and coaches,” third grader Drea Westbrook said. “Running with my coaches and the principal, cause the principal a long time ago I used to have hard bad days and now she helps me.”

“Never give up on anything you want to achieve,” sixth grader Lola Wolf said. “Even if you want to play games that people say, ‘Oh, it’s too much like boys can play,’ don’t believe them. Play what you want to play and do what you want to do.”

“We see so many messages as females that say you have to do better, be more this way, and Girls on the Run really says just as you are, you’re amazing and you’re wonderful and you can do hard things,” Whelden said.

Coaches not only work on running with the girls, but they also facilitate lessons on managing emotions, fostering friendships and expressing empathy.

At the end of the season, the team completes a Community Impact Project and a 5K together.

This year’s event takes place on May 9 in Land Park. If you’d like to volunteer, they have more information on their website.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel