Let me tell you about Amelia.
She’s a 4th grader who joined Girls on the Run this past season. Things at home were hard. Her school counselor encouraged her mom to sign her up, and at first, Amelia wasn’t too sure about it. She was quiet, unsure, kind of tucked into herself.
But she kept showing up.
She started walking more. Then jogging a little. And one day, she turned to a teammate and said:
“I think I’m getting better at not giving up.”
Y’all. That’s the moment. That’s the why.
Fast forward to our 5K. Amelia didn’t sprint. She walked. Then jogged. Then walked again. And when she crossed the finish line—messy hair, biggest smile, arms raised—I cried. Not quietly.
She didn’t know it, but I did.
I’m usually somewhere near the finish line during our 5Ks—coordinating course marshals, dealing with communications, running through checklists. The kind of stuff no one really sees. But being there also gives me the privilege to witness these incredible little moments. The ones that whisper,
“the finish line is only the beginning.”
What’s Going On With Girls?
Honestly? It’s heavy (yes, my childhood was in the 80s).
The State of the Girl report says 1 in 3 girls in the U.S. seriously considered suicide last year. And in Virginia, we’re among the highest for anxiety and depression rates in girls.
That’s heartbreaking.
That’s why what we do matters more than ever.
Girls on the Run isn’t just about running. It’s about building confidence. About learning how to make friends, speak up, and stand tall. It’s about knowing your worth and believing in your voice.
Our Plan: The Path to Possibility
As we head into Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, we’re launching something we’re calling the Path to Possibility—our bold campaign to support 500 girls across our region this year.
Here’s the truth: it costs about $440 to fully support one girl in our program. But we only ever charge a maximum of $150, and even that’s flexible. Families are encouraged to pay what they can, and we work behind the scenes to fill the gap.
Meanwhile… everything is going up. Our insurance alone increased more than 14% this year.
But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:
If you ever see me standing outside Target with a coffee cup in one hand and a cardboard sign in the other—you’ll know why. And these girls are worth it!
I will NEVER turn a girl away because of money.
If we've got a patch of grass to run on and 2 willing volutneers to show up with heart, we'll make it happen.
That's the Girls on the Run way.
That's my way.
I’m Not One for Flowery Speeches...
We’re not a big-budget nonprofit. We don’t have a major gifts officer or a fancy fundraising team.
We’re grassroots. Scrappy. Small but mighty.
We are a team that’s over-extended, over-tired—and completely in love with serving your girls.
And right now, we’re asking for your help so we can keep doing this work.
So we can keep saying yes when a school calls.
So we can show up for the girl who needs us—whether she can afford it or not.
So we can look her in the eye and remind her she matters. No matter what the world tells her.
What Your Gift Does
Your donation makes real stuff happen. Like:
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š $50 = lesson supplies and snacks
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š $150 = full registration for one girl in need
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š $37/month = fully funds one girl over the year
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š $440 = covers the total cost of one girl, start to finish
From the Heart of a Coach
Coach Maya from Culpeper said this:
“I thought I was signing up to help the girls. But they helped me. I remembered what it feels like to be part of something that matters.”
From a Grateful Mom
One mom wrote me an email I’ll never delete:
“My daughter was new to school and had stopped smiling. GOTR brought her back. She’s laughing again. She believes in herself again.”
And yes—I save every single email and note like that. Always have. Always will.
It’s what gets me through the tough days—when nonprofit life feels dark and faceless, and I’m buried under insurance forms, vendor emails, and that mountain of paperwork that somehow multiplies overnight.
These little reminders?
They’re everything to me!
So if you have a story to share—a moment, a win, a smile—please send it to me.
This stuff is air for me. I live on it! Just like all my emails filled with exclamation points—because this excites me. This is food for my soul!!
Why I Chose Path to Possibility
Back in 2015, we had 43 girls.
Reaching 500? This feels impossible.
Serving that many girls with a skeleton staff, volunteers, and bargain shopping for supplies? Impossible.
Getting help for the girl who said there was nothing good in her life—who said no one would miss her if she were gone? Impossible.
Helping the girl who vomited from anxiety before every practice… who now helps her classmates with schoolwork? Impossible.
But if Girls on the Run has taught me anything, it’s this:
The word “impossible” actually says “I’m possible.”
Let’s shoot for the stars and serve 500 girls this year.
Let’s show them they are brave, strong, and never alone.
Let’s walk—no, run—this Path to Possibility together.
Be Part of Her Possibility
You can give once, or set up a monthly donation that sponsors a girl like Amelia.
Donate at www.gotrpiedmont.org
Share this story with #PathToPossibility
I believe in these girls with my whole heart. If you do too… let’s go.