Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

Registration for the Girls on the Run program is open until Feb. 5, and coaches are urging interested third, fourth and fifth-grade girls to fill out an application as soon as possible.

The program, which has been offered in Haines for the last several years through the Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies (AWARE) organization, aims to inspire self-awareness, self-respect and a sense of achievement in young women by teaching them about topics like body image and the media, resisting peer pressure and making healthy decisions.

The program splices experience-based curriculum with running exercises to promote social and physical growth.

Sara Chapell and Lexie DeWitt are coaches this year and will be assisted by school guidance counselor Lindsey Moore.

  The program starts Feb. 5 and meets every Monday and Wednesday for about 60-90 minutes per session. Chapell said the sooner girls register, the sooner the coaches can order the free running shoes that come with the program’s $100 registration fee.

Scholarships are available to partially or completely cover the registration fee, Chapell said. “Even though there is a cost to participate, the scholarship program is so strong anyone who requests a full or partial scholarship is granted, no questions asked,” she said.

The group hopes to do some fundraising to travel to Juneau in May, when Girls on the Run founder Molly Barker will be in Juneau for a 5K.

  “We’ll potentially be running with girls from all over Southeast Alaska,” Chapell said.

  Chapell said interested girls can request an application from their classroom teacher. Applications are also available at the school’s front office.